Caterham Signs Giedo van der Garde as Second Driver

CaterhamCaterhamUnited Kingdom, 1973 > present9 models
354 photos
1 video
has signed Giedo van der Garde as its second driver for the 2013 season. He is the team's test driver  from 2012 and will join Charles Pic on the team for 2013. Van der Garde also raced for Caterham's GP2 team in 2012; he scored two wins and finished sixth in the championship. 

Van der Garde has been racing in the GP2 series since 2009. His best result in the series championship was fifth in 2011. Reportedly, he was in competition with Heikki Kovalainen, Vitaly Petrov, Bruno Senna and Luiz Razia for the second seat at Caterham. 

"I know I am ready to take the step up to F1 and all the work I have done throughout my career, and particularly in the last year with this team, has brought me to my ultimate goal. Throughout 2012 I was able to fully integrate myself into the team, both through the FP1 sessions I ran at a number of tracks that were then new to me, and as Reserve Driver, fully embedded with the team throughout the season," said Van der Garde.

Caterham's strategy appears to be hiring young drivers with the hope that their talent will grow as they gain experience. 

There are still two slots available in Formula 1 for 2013. There is a seat open at both Force IndiaForce IndiaIndia, 2007 > present8 models
118 photos
and MarussiaMaRussiaRussian Federation, 2007 > present4 models
62 photos
.