Alexander Rossi handed Canada GP F1 practice duty for Caterham

The American was appointed the team's reserve driver earlier this year but is yet to drive the 2013 car on a circuit, having only carried out aero testing with it.

Rossi, also competing with Caterham in the GP2 series, last drove in practice in last year's Spanish Grand Prix.

"Returning to F1 action is obviously another important step in the plan I've worked over a decade for and I take all the opportunities I get very seriously," he said.

"This will be my first outing in the CT03 and on the 2013 Pirelli tyres in F1 and it's good that my 2013 F1 debut is on North American soil, in front of a crowd who are seriously passionate about F1 and really know what our sport is all about.

"Even though FP1 sessions always seem to be over in the blink of an eye, it'll be good to play an important part in the team's work on track.

"I was last in an F1 car in the CT02 2012 car in Abu Dhabi, last November for the young driver test so I'm looking forward to see how far the car has progressed since then."