Dixon could test for NZ in Dubai

Although one of the team's regular squad drivers Matt Halliday has been confirmed for qualifying and the two races, chief executive Bob McMurray said that Dixon will be present in Dubai and could test for the team on Friday.

There are an additional two 20-minute free practice sessions this weekend to help ready the second cars for this weekend's round, as well as the regular two, one-hour practice sessions in the afternoon.

McMurray said that the team would love to get Dixon's thoughts on the chassis this weekend, but they are still planning Dixon's debut at the rounds at tracks he already knows - the races in Monterrey, Mexico, and Laguna Seca, California.

"We have two extra twenty-minute sessions on Friday to give our second chassis a run and it is possible Scott could drive then to give him a feel for the basic handling of the car," McMurray said.

"We're keen to get his thoughts on the chassis, but we're realistic about how valuable the experience will actually be given the short amount of time available and the relatively long lap at the Dubai Autodrome.

"We're still working towards Scott driving the car in the penultimate round in the United States next March, so the Dubai drive is more like a canape to that main course. It will be extremely low-key."

Dubai will be the first time Halliday has driven the car in consecutive meetings, having shared driving duties with Jonny Reid in the previous five rounds.

"We were following a particular set-up strategy at the last race in Malaysia," McMurray said. "We did not have time to follow that strategy to its conclusion, so we are keen to maintain the momentum with Matt driving in Dubai."