RACING STEPS FOUNDATION SECURES 2012 GP2 DRIVE FOR CALADO WITH LOTUS ART

News from the Racing Steps Foundation

James Calado, the 2011 GP3 Series Vice-Champion, is to step up to GP2 next season with the championship-winning Lotus ART Grand Prix squad.

The 22 years-old Racing Steps Foundation-backed driver will partner GP2 returnee and Sauber Formula 1 reserve Esteban Gutierrez.

Calado earned the RSF-sponsored drive on the back of an impressive rookie season in GP3 in which

the Worcestershire racer claimed six podium finishes, including a win, and two fastest laps on his way to second place behind Lotus ART team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Calado's performance in the recent end-of-season GP2 test at Jerez, in which he finished fifth in the final session, was also instrumental in clinching the Lotus ART deal.

"It's absolutely tremendous news and really good to get things sewn up in good time," said James Calado.

"There's a lot of really strong competition for the Lotus ART GP2 seats so to get the drive alongside Gutierrez is very flattering and a real feather in my cap.

"I was really impressed with the team's approach in what was an extremely tough season in GP3 this year. They worked so hard to get on top of the problems that all the teams were experiencing with tyres in the first half of the season and that gave me and Valtteri the chance to show our true colours.

"With Formula 1-type tyre options being introduced into GP2 next year, tyre management is going to be the key to how you perform. So having Lotus ART's expertise and professionalism behind me is going to be a big plus, for sure," he added.

"GP2's going to be a lot tougher than GP3 for certain and Esteban Gutierrez, with a year's experience behind him, is going to be a pretty challenging team-mate to race against.

"But as a team we showed what was possible in GP3 and I'm hopeful we can do the same in GP2."

Lotus ART boss Frederic Vasseur also welcomed the continuing tie-up between the team and the Racing Steps Foundation. "We were very impressed with James in GP3. He had a very mature approach and played an important part in developing a race-winning car that enabled us to finish on top in the driver and team championships.

"I believe James has a lot of potential and I think we will work well together to realise that potential for James and for the team."

Calado had his second stint in a GP2 car at the most recent test at Barcelona on October 20. He is also slated to take part in the one-off end-of-season GP2 race at Abu Dhabi next month.

The driver's single-seater career has been supported and developed by the RSF since he switched from karts to cars at the end of 2007.

Since then Calado has wrapped up Vice-Championships in Formula Renault UK and British Formula 3 International claiming 41 podium finishes, including 20 wins, 20 pole positions and 20 fastest laps along the way.

Speaking of James’ confirmed 2012 plans, Racing Steps Foundation founder Graham Sharp said: “James’ progress since he became a part of the Foundation has been really impressive. Each season he has raised his game to meet the new challenges of new formulae with maturity, dedication and professionalism as a result of which he’s more than earned the Foundation’s backing for a Lotus ART GP2 seat.”