Ferrari test driver Ilott lands 2021 GT seat

Ferrari test driver Callum Ilott is set to dovetail his new role with the team by competing in a number of GT races this season.

Ilott was announced as Ferrari's tester late last year after missing out on a seat in Formula 1 as the Scuderia's Driver Academy retained Antonio Giovinazzi with Alfa Romeo and placed Formula 2 champion Michael Schumacher with Haas.

Ferrari has confirmed Ilott will be present at several grands prix this year, but in order to keep the 22-year-old active, it states he "will still enjoy the thrill of racing as he will also be taking part in a GT programme, at the wheel of a Ferrari for some of the most famous sports car races".

Ferrari has yet to confirm which races Ilott will be involved in as it is understood to be assessing the various options available and which would be most beneficial for Ilott.

Ilott is among eight drivers working with the FDA this year, including Schumacher, who is one of four on the current F1 grid to have rolled off the Scuderia's conveyor belt of talent alongside Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll.

Robert Shwartzman takes part in his second season in F2, with the FDA stating that the Russian's "clear goal is to win the title".

Shwartzman will be joined in F2 by Marcus Armstrong, who recently drove a Ferrari F1 car for the first time two weeks ago in a test at Fiorano, and who has recently switched to the DAMS team.

After finishing second in the Formula Regional championship last year, Leclerc's younger brother Arthur has stepped up to F3 with the Prema team this year.

Swedish-born Dino Beganovic replaces Arthur Leclerc in Formula Regional, while there are two new recruits in 16-year-old Maya Weug, the Scuderia's first female to be represented by the FDA who will take part in F4.

The other is 14-year-old Australian James Wharton who will continue his grounding in karting this year after emerging from Ferrari's inaugural scouting world final last year to detect new talent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Looking ahead to the new season, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said: "We have always said the FDA is not just a school that has to help the best youngsters make it to Formula 1, but that above all it must train those that one day will be the standard-bearers for Scuderia Ferrari in the top-level category of motor racing.

"We achieved that with Charles Leclerc and we are pleased that this year, another driver who grew up with us, Mick Schumacher, will also make his F1 debut.

"Apart from the well-known names of Callum, Robert, Marcus, Arthur and Dino, listed in order of their ages, I am very pleased to welcome the two new students, Maya Weug and James Wharton, who join the Academy this year.

"Their arrival is important because it also confirms the effort we are putting in when it comes to making motorsport more inclusive.

"I wish all of them the very best of luck and hope that they will progress and be successful during this season which they should tackle with humility, determination and with a desire to learn, without ever forgetting that they are following their dream."

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