Rahal to test for DPR next week

The 17-year-old will take part in one of the two test days for the DPR Direxiv team at the French test track. He will take the place of the recuperating Olivier Pla, who missed the last GP2 outing at Silverstone with the wrist injury he sustained at Monaco.

Rahal Jr, who races in the Champ Car Atlantic series, believes GP2 could be a passport to following his father's footsteps into racing in F1.

"My ultimate dream would be to compete in Formula One," he said in a media conference earlier this week. "I'm trying to take steps to Formula One in the near future.

"You can get into an F1 team in one of two ways: you can be a test driver, or you can be a race driver. I'd rather be a race driver. I'll start in GP2 and see what happens.

"If I get an F1 test after one year, I'll make the most of it. But right now I'm not ready. I don't want to waste my chance. I have to prepare for the day."

Pla is expected to return to action on the second of the GP2 test days. The test takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Bobby Rahal made two F1 starts for the Wolf team in 1978.