Parente to have prize test in January

The Portuguese driver, a former British Formula Three champion, will test a Renault R27 at the Spanish test circuit on January 17.

"It's a dream come true," said Parente. "My aim has always been to drive an F1 car one day. I knew that winning the title would lead to a test with the ING Renault F1 Team, but still, it was as though Christmas had come early when they gave me the date.

"For the next month I'll be focussing all my attention on this. It's a very important moment in my career. I'm going to step up my physical training programme so that I'm 100% ready on January 17th."

Parente will have his seat fitting at Renault's Enstone factory in early January and will attend the first two days of the Jerez test as a spectator, to oversee how the team works.

"I think there will be a lot to take in over the first three days as I watch the team and the drivers at work," he added.

"It's no accident that Renault and Fernando Alonso won the world championship two years running. Working with such a successful team can only have a beneficial effect on the rest of my career."