Jules Bianchi will take part in the private Formula One testing session at the Jerez de Frontera circuit in Spain on the first of December behind the wheel of a single seater from one of the most prestigious names in the history of the sport, Scuderia Ferrari, as part of his first official duties as their new Formula One test driver.

Since beginning in motor sport three years ago, Jules has climbed the ranks with method, purpose and speed. Champion of the Formula Renault France 2.0 in his debut season in motor sport back in 2007, the Team of France FFSA Circuit member also won the Masters of Zandvoort in Formula 3 the following year and then became champion of the Formula 3 Euro Series this season by equalizing the record for the most number of victories in race one (7) and by enriching his title with two successful appearances in the English Formula 3 Championship.

Before the end of 2009 there will be two more major milestones in his career, when at just 20 years of age he will take part in the international Formula 3 event in Macao this weekend, and carry out his baptism in a Formula One car on the 1st and 2nd of December behind the wheel of Ferrari F60. Jules will join the test days reserved for up and coming young talents.

In making this move, the young Frenchman will become the first French driver since Jean Alesi (who today is Captain of Team France FFSA Circuit) to climb aboard a bright red racing contender proudly displaying the logo of the prancing horse and the older racer couldn’t wait to congratulate him on his efforts....

“Until now I was the last French driver who drove a Ferrari Formula One car and I’m delighted to pass the baton to Jules’ hand, it’s a nice story between the Captain of the Equipe de France FFSA and one of its top members,” Alesi said. “It’s certainly an honour for Jules, but you have to underline it is also a deserved reward for all his first-class performances and work. I know Jules really well and I know he will remain calm and collected, but at the same time I’m sure he will have goose bumps when he climbs into the red car! A lot of drivers dream of, or are still dreaming of driving for the Prancing Horse, but while many are called, only a few are chosen and he owes this reward to his work as well as to a true manager who is alongside him at every milestone in his career.”

“We must not underestimate this test but we must also know how to put it into perspective: we know the difficulties that the F60 had to cope with and especially through the ones two very experienced drivers such as Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella had this year. Other drivers will run at the same time as Jules, some of them with a world champion car and others who have already had an F1 experience. We will therefore have to compare Jules with the three others drivers who will drive the same car as him, the Ferrari.”