Lotus Renault GP has announced former Lotus Racing driver Fairuz Fauzy as a reserve driver for the 2011 season.

The 28-year-old Malaysian (seen here wearing the other Lotus team's cap) joins the team with a wealth of motor sport experience, including significant F1 mileage gained during practice sessions in 2010 with the other team called Lotus. He has also raced regularly in the GP2 Series, A1GP, and the World Series by Renault, where he finished as championship runner-up in 2009.

In addition to his Formula 1 duties, Fauzy will return to racing this year in the GP2 series with Super Nova Racing. His car will carry significant branding from Malaysian car manufacturer and Lotus Cars stakeholder, Proton.

"I want to thank Lotus Renault GP for giving me this opportunity," said Fauzy. "It's a real honour to be part of a top team that has achieved so much in the sport and it's something any driver dreams about. It's feels especially exciting because of the new partnership with Lotus and I'm very proud to be here at the start of a new era for the team. It's also a great opportunity for me to improve as a driver and learn as much as I can about Formula 1 so that hopefully one day I can be on the grid myself."

As a reserve driver for the team, Fairuz Fauzy also becomes the first driver to join the LRGP Academy, a programme designed to bring on promising talents and prepare them for Grand Prix racing.

As a member of the programme, he will take part in development work for the team and will have the opportunity to gain further Formula 1 experience in a 2009-spec Formula 1 car, the R29. The programme is designed to prepare drivers for the demands of Formula 1 competition both on and off the track. Whether attending fitness camps, undergoing media training, or actually getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, it gives drivers the chance to develop a wide range of skills while building a relationship with the team. Several drivers will be inducted into the programme during 2011 to complete Lotus Renault GP's reserve driver line-up.