NICO HÜLKENBERG CONFIRMED AS TEST DRIVER
The AT&T Williams team today confirmed that the twenty
year old driver, Nico Hülkenberg from Emmerich in Germany,
has been contracted as the team’s official test driver
for the forthcoming 2008 season.
Hülkenberg, who tested for the team last week in Jerez,
made a positive impression and conducted himself with maturity
over the two days and 425kms of development work. Following
the detailed assessment of his capabilities both in and out
of the cockpit, he has been awarded the official test driver
role which will commence in 2008.
On the confirmation of his appointment, Nico said,
“The two days of Formula One testing with the AT&T
Williams team last week in Jerez were the realisation of an
ambition that has driven me ever since my first kart race
back in 1997. When I actually got out on track in the FW29,
it fulfilled every expectation and more. So to have represented
myself sufficiently well to have been appointed as the team’s
official test driver is the most amazing news and for me,
Christmas has come early.”
In the past three seasons, the former German kart champion
has contested the German Formula BMW Championship, German
F3, A1 GP and the Formula Three Euroseries. From the 68 starts
he has made in these various championships, he has claimed
25 race wins and 14 poles, winning the Formula BMW ADAC title
and helping the German national team to its A1 GP title in
2006/7 as a series rookie. Nico has also performed strongly
in a number of non-championship races including winning the
Ultimate Masters of Formula 3 at Zolder. In 2008, he will
again contest the Formula 3 Euroseries alongside his Formula
One testing duties.
Sam Michael, the Williams Technical Director said,
“Nico has been through the rigours of our driver assessment
programme culminating in his two day test in Jerez last week.
Clearly he has shown demonstrable talent in the junior formulae,
but it was important for us to see if he could make the step
to Formula One. On the evidence we have so far, Nico is a
quick and capable driver.”
NICO HÜLKENBERG BIOGRAPHY IN SHORT
PERSONAL DETAILS
Age/DOB: 20, Born 19 August 1987
Home: Emmerich, Germany
Status: Single
Height: 1m 84
Weight: 70kg
Website: www.nico-huelkenberg.de
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2007 Winner, Formula 3 Masters at Zolder
Formula 3 Euroseries, 4 wins, 2 poles, 3rd in Championship
2006 A1 GP Team Germany, series champions, 20 races, 9 wins
2005 Formula BMW ADAC Champion, 20 races, 9 wins, 8 poles
BMW World Final, Bahrain, 3rd
2001 – 2004 Karting with CRG Netherland
DKM German Champion
Italian Junior Champion
German Junior Champion
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