Toro Rosso to run Jean-Eric Vergne in Friday practice at three grands prix

The 2010 British Formula 3 champion and '11 Formula Renault 3.5 runner-up will make his GP weekend debut for the team in Korea this week, where he will take over Jaime Alguersuari's car for the Friday morning session.

He will not run at the Indian GP so that regular drivers Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi can maximise their running time at the brand new track, but will return for Abu Dhabi and Brazil.

"Jaime sits out the session because the last time a driver was replaced on Friday morning, it was Sebastien Buemi who gave up his seat to Daniel Ricciardo," said a Toro Rosso statement.

"Vergne will not drive at the Indian Grand Prix, because this is a new circuit and therefore both our race drivers will be given the maximum amount of track time.

"He will return in Abu Dhabi, replacing Buemi. At the final round of the season in Brazil, whichever of the Toro Rosso drivers has the least points will give up his seat to Vergne for FP1."

AUTOSPORT revealed in August that Vergne was set for some Friday outings at the end of this season and could be Toro Rosso's official third driver in 2012. The 21-year-old Frenchman took part in last year's young driver Formula 1 tests in Abu Dhabi with STR and is expected to do the same this winter.