Renault confirm van der Garde test date

The Dutchman, who was part of Spyker's Formula One test driver roster in 2007, will have a seat fitting at the Renault factory and meet the team's engineers tomorrow, before partipating in their Barcelona test on 17-18 November.

"This is an incredible opportunity being offered to me by Renault Sport Technologies and ING Renault F1 Team," he said.

"To be able to test-drive a Formula One car in these conditions, with a team that has won two world championships and again this year won two Grands Prix, is ideal.

"Going back to Enstone will be very special for me. I often used to go and train there when I was on the Renault Driver Development programme. So I'll be seeing people I already know. That will help me to integrate into the team more easily."

The champion of the single-seater element of Renault's World Series programme traditionally receives a Renault F1 test, and van der Garde will follow in the footsteps of previous title-winners Robert Kubica, Alx Danielsson and Alvaro Parente.

The 23-year-old, who is now racing in the GP2 Asia series, has experience of the Catalunya track from his FR 3.5 days.

"It's a real positive to be driving on a circuit where I've driven quite a lot in the past," said van der Garde.

"But in a Formula One car, everything will be different. It's another world.

"The most important thing for me will be to learn as much as I can. I'm going to do all I can to meet the team's expectations."