Sochi demo run for Sauber's Sirotkin

Russian Sauber hopeful Sergey Sirotkin will make his Formula One debut next month at a demonstration event to be held at his home country’s new Sochi circuit. Sirotkin, 17, is being prepared as a 2014 race driver by Sauber as part of a deal with Russian backers.

Sirotkin paid a two-day visit to the team’s Swiss base this week to have a closer look at and gain more understanding of Formula One technology, including a lesson on how an F1 steering wheel works. He also had a seat fitting before his September 27 demo run was announced.

“My visit to the Sauber F1 Team headquarters was busy,” he said. “I learned a lot about the team and many other things. I met the engineers and learned about the car and what happens over a race weekend.

“I am happy because, if you had told me six months ago that one day I would visit this workshop and meet this team, I would have never believed you. It’s great. The dream is so close to becoming reality now.”

Monisha Kaltenborn, Sauber team principal, added: "We are proud to be doing the demo run next month. It will be a historical moment when a Russian driver drives a Formula One car for the first time at the track in Sochi.”

Sirotkin, who won the Italian-based Formula Abarth title in 2011, currently competes in the World Series by Renault championship and scored his first podium finish earlier this year.

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