MOTORSPORT: D'Ambrosio out to grab chance (From Bicester Advertiser)

MOTORSPORT: D'Ambrosio out to grab chance

9:40am Saturday 8th September 2012 in Sport

LOTUS F1 Team third driver Jerome D’Ambrosio is determined to make the most of his big chance in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza tomorrow.

The 26-year-old Belgian steps in for the Enstone-based outfit as a replacement for Romain Grosjean, who is serving a one-race ban after sparking a fou- car pile-up in last Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

D’Ambrosio said: “My desire for 2012 has always been to get back into the seat of a Formula 1 car, so I am grabbing this opportunity with both hands.

“Monza is a superb circuit, but it is also quite a technical one, so I am not underestimating the task ahead of me. “I want to reward the faith that the team has in me with a good haul of points from the race.”

Meanwhile, Pastor Maldonado is aiming to prove worthy of his status as the Grove-based Williams team leader and keep his nose clean for the remainder of the season.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan has been penalised on ten occasions this season by the stewards, including three times in the Belgian Grand Prix.

“I am leading the team and I need to respond,” said Maldonado.

“I have been penalised quite a lot. I need to try to do something different to stay away from the stewards, and I am doing my best.”

• CHIPPING Norton’s Alice Powell, heads to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix 3 after finishing 18th and 12th in her two races for the Status Grand Prix team at Spa-Francorchamps.