Merhi in race to make FR3.5 test

Manor Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi has committed to a demanding travel schedule in order to contest Monday's Formula Renault 3.5 test at Aragon straight after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Alongside his F1 commitments, Spaniard Merhi has elected to participate in a concurrent FR3.5 campaign for Pons Racing this season. The final pre-season FR3.5 test has acquired additional importance given the first race of the championship will also take place at Aragon on April 25-26.

"Obviously it is going to be a big rush for Roberto, he will miss the beginning of the test and maybe the whole morning, but we expect Roberto can drive for at least a day-and-a-half," Pons team manager Emilio de Villota Jr. said. "Roberto will leave Malaysia at eight o'clock in the evening and is then scheduled to land at Barcelona at nine o'clock in the morning.

"We will have a car waiting for him to drive down to Motorland, which is two-and-a-half hours away. Even if Roberto misses the morning, it is still very valuable for us to have him there.

"Roberto is making a big effort to be there for us, so we need to take advantage of it. My fingers are crossed that he will make his F1 debut this weekend."

Pons has also confirmed that Indonesian rookie Philo Paz Patric Armand (pictured) will complete the season in its second car.

Armand tested for Pons at Jerez earlier this month, and is a graduate of FR2.0, where he raced for Tech 1 Racing last year.

FR3.5 LINEUP SO FAR

DAMS
Nyck de Vries, Dean Stoneman

Fortec Motorsports
Oliver Rowland, Jazeman Jaafar

Arden Motorsport
Egor Orudzhev, Nicholas Latifi

Zeta Corse
Facu Regalia, TBA

Lotus
Meindert van Buuren, Matthieu Vaxiviere

Strakka Racing
Gustav Malja, Tio Ellinas

AVF
Beitske Visser, Alfonso Celis

Tech 1 Racing
Aurelien Panis, Roy Nissany

International Draco Racing
Pietro Fantin, Bruno Bonifacio

Pons Racing
Roberto Merhi, Philo Paz Patric Armand

Carlin
Tom Dillmann, Sean Gelael

Comtec Racing
Yet to announce any drivers

Originally on Autosport.com