The AT&T Williams team today confirmed the appointment of Valtteri Bottas as its official test driver.
Valtteri, a 20-year old from Nastola, Finland, will take up the role vacated by Nico Hulkenberg as he steps up as a team race driver. Having begun karting at the age of six, Bottas has a strong record of success with seven years in the Finnish national squad. In 2006, he concluded his karting career by winning the WSK International Series Formula A, Finnish Formula A and Finnish ICA. In 2007, he moved to Formula Renault where, in 2008, he won both the Eurocup and NEC championships with 17 wins and 22 podiums from 28 starts. In 2009, he graduated to Formula 3 with ART and was the highest placed rookie, finishing third in the championship with six second place finishes and two pole positions in the 10-round Euroseries Championship. He also won the F3 Masters last year.
On his appointment, AT&T Williams Team Principal Frank Williams said, “Valtterri’s CV is very impressive, with a long list of success in the right junior formulae. We hope that the role of official test driver in our squad will provide him with another step in his development. We wish him all the best in the Formula Three Euroseries this season.”
Valtteri said, “This is a great way to start 2010. I am very honoured to have been selected by a team as prestigious as AT&T Williams, one of the most significant names in the sport. This is an important step in my career but now the real work starts to get to the top. I am sure I will learn a lot with the team and I trust that together we will achieve great results for the years to come. This opportunity gives me even more positive energy to improve as a driver and achieve my future targets as my ultimate goal will be to become Formula One World Champion one day. I take the opportunity to thank Sir Frank Williams and the senior management of the team and also to thank my management and my sponsors for all their work and support so far.”
Biography
Nationality: Finnish
Date of birth: 28 August 1989
Place of birth: Nastola, Finland
Lives: Oxford, UK and Villähde, Finland
Height: 1.73m
Weight: 70kg
Marital status: Single
Hobbies: Gym, roller skating, running
Website: www.valtteribottas.com
Single Seater Competition Stats To Date
Race Starts: 74
Wins: 23
Poles: 24
Career Highlights
2010: Formula 3 with ART, AT&T Williams official test driver
2009: Formula 3 Euroseries with ART, 3rd place, 1 pole, 6 second places, 62 points
2009: Formula 3 Masters, Zandvoort, polesitter and winner
2008: Formula Renault Eurocup Championship winner with Motopark Academy, 14 races, 5 wins, 7 poles, 10 podiums, 4 fastest laps, 139 points
2008: Formula Renault Northern European Cup Championship winner with Motopark Academy, 14 races, 12 wins, 13 poles, 365 points
2007: Formula Renault UK Winter Series, 4 races, 3 wins & Formula Renault Northern European Cup, 3rd in Championship
2006: Finnish Championship Formula A winner, Finnish Championship ICA winner, WSK International Series Formula A winner, NEZ Championship ICA runner up
2005: Finnish Championship ICA 3rd, Viking Trophy ICA winner
2004: Finnish Championship ICA Junior winner, Viking Trophy ICA Junior runner-up
2002: Selected for the Finnish National karting squad
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