D'Ambrosio joins Virgin as Friday driver

The 25-year-old Belgian will take part in the first first practice sessions at the Singapore, Japanese, Korean and Brazilian Grands Prix, as the team evaluates his performance.

D'Ambrosio will replace Brazilian Lucas di Grassi in all the sessions, driving alongside Timo Glock.

The GP2 driver, 10th in this year's championship, will also run for Virgin in the young driver tests taking place in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.

"My ultimate goal has always been to race in Formula 1 and I am delighted to get a step closer," he said. "I wish to thank Virgin Racing and Gravity Sport Management for their confidence. I won't disappoint them.

"This drive is a fantastic opportunity and I am looking forward to helping the team in every way I can, as well as gaining experience on four of the most demanding tracks of the F1 calendar. Looking at the 2011 season, this will be very useful."

The team also said Glock still has two years of his contract left, with an option on di Grassi for next season.

Graeme Lowdon, CEO of Virgin Racing, added: "We are very pleased to welcome Jerome to Virgin Racing and we look forward to providing him with the opportunity to drive the VR-01 during the first free practice session of the next four race weekends. He will also take part in our young driver test in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.

"We have a contract with Timo Glock for another two years and an option on the services of Lucas di Grassi for next year. Both drivers have done an outstanding job for us in our debut season. We are always looking to progress new racing talent and the team out of which Virgin Racing was born has a long history of this.

"Jerome is a real racer and very deserving of this opportunity. We are looking forward to evaluating his performance with effect from next weekend's Singapore Grand Prix. With both Jerome and Luis supporting the Team, we have two drivers with enormous future potential."