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Force India gets Mexican flavour for testing

Abu Dhabi - Nineteen-year old Mexican racer, Alfonso Celis will be part of the Sahara Force India team's season-ending Abu Dhabi tests as its development driver sharing driving duties with Nico Hulkenberg.

 Sahara Force India-Mercedes, lying fifth in the Constructors standings on 120 points, has Sergio Perez (68) and Nico Hulkenberg (52) in ninth and 10th places in the Drivers' Championship.
Nineteen-year old Mexican racer, Alfonso Celis will be part of the Sahara Force India team's season-ending Abu Dhabi tests as its development driver sharing driving duties with Nico Hulkenberg.
This will be his first experience of Formula One power behind the wheel of the VJM08 early next week. In his role with Sahara Force India, Celis will spend time on the simulator at the team's Silverstone factory in England. He will also take part in seven official practice sessions at Grand Prix events during the 2016 season.
He is one of the most promising young Mexicans emerging from the junior formulas after karting success in his country. The cheerful teenager moved to Europe in 2013 to compete in the Formula Renault NEC championship, and progressed to the GP3 Series last year. This year he raced for ART in GP3 in parallel to a World Series by the Renault programme with AVF.
"Ever since I started racing I've been dreaming of Formula One, so it's a huge honour to begin working with Sahara Force India. It's an amazing opportunity for me to learn about Formula One and to work closely with the engineers and race drivers. Being on the track in Abu Dhabi will be an incredible feeling. It's going to be the biggest moment in my career and I am fully focussed on doing a good job for the team," Celis mentions on the team's official website.
"I would like to welcome Alfonso to the team and wish him well ahead of his debut with us in Abu Dhabi. As our development driver we will work hard to prepare him for the demands of driving in Formula One and provide a good grounding in all aspects of the job. It's a fantastic opportunity for Alfonso to learn from Sergio and Nico, and to get valuable mileage in the car," Vijay Mallya, team principal and managing director, Sahara Force India, stated on the team's official website.
Mallya says the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will feel like a celebration after his squad secured fifth in the standings in Brazil.
moni@khaleejtimes.com