Marussia gives Ellinas first F1 test

Formula 1 team Marussia has handed Tio Ellinas of Cyprus his first Formula 1 test.

The Marussia young driver programme member Ellinas will conduct a scheduled straight-line aerodynamic evaluation with the team at United Kingdom's Kemble Airfield Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Cypriot is now in his second season competing with Marussia Manor Racing in GP3 and currently leads the championship. Last year, as the team's most successful driver, he won a slot in the F1 young driver test, which will take place at Silverstone next month. His test will make Ellinas the first Greek-Cypriot to drive an F1 car.

"It goes without saying that I am thrilled to get this additional opportunity to drive the Marussia F1 Team MR02 race car. I have been looking forward to the young driver test since last autumn and the weeks can't pass quickly enough," Ellinas was quoted as saying by formula1.com.

"Being able to conduct the straight-line test this week will help to bridge the gap until Silverstone and will also mean I can hit the ground running there as I will already be familiar with the car systems and the team's procedures.

"In the meantime I have been trying to focus on my GP3 season as I want to give it my all. I can't pretend I'm not excited about the F1 tests and I would like to thank the Marussia F1 Team for the faith they have shown in me. I hope to do a good job to reward that."

Marussia team principal John Booth said: "Tio has done a very impressive job for our GP3 team over one and a half seasons now. We were very pleased to welcome him back for a second term and even more delighted when he brought us our first victory of the season in the opening round in Spain.

"He is definitely a star of the future and deserves both the opportunities that we are putting his way, starting with this week's aero test. This will provide him with some good familiarisation time with the car, which will then enable him to push when we get to the young driver test next month."