World Series by Renault Champion Giedo van der Garde is to test for the Renault F1 team at Barcelona next week.

"This is an incredible opportunity being offered to me by Renault Sport Technologies and ING Renault F1 Team," writes the Dutch driver on his website. "To be able to test-drive a Formula 1 car in these conditions, with a team that has won two world championships and again this year won two Grand Prix, is ideal.

"Going back to Enstone will be very special for me,2 He continues. "I often used to go and train there when I was on the Renault Driver Development programme. So I'll be seeing people I already know. That will help me to integrate into the team more easily."

"It's a real positive to be driving on a circuit where I've driven quite a lot in the past. But in a Formula 1 car, everything will be different. It's another world! The most important thing for me will be to learn as much as I can. I'm going to do all I can to meet the team's expectations and follow the programme that the ING Renault F1 Team sets out for me. I can't wait."

Since the end of the World Series by Renault season, the Dutchman has been kept busy, what with testing for the 2009 GP2 Series with iSport and contesting the GP2 Asia Series with Fisichella Motor Sport.

An der Garde follows in the footsteps of BMW racer Robert Kubica, who was also handed a Renault test after winning the 2005 World Series by Renault championship.