Zoom Hulkenberg eager to get going

Reigning GP2 champion Nico Hulkenberg will be furthering his Formula One career next season when he moves up from his reserve driver status at Williams to become a Grand Prix racer. The German's results in the feeder series convinced the team that it was time for the 22-year-old to take the next big step.

"I'm pretty excited to be racing for Williams - they're real racers," Hulkenberg said. "I've been with the team as a test driver for two years now so I know everyone well.

"I've also been working in the factory itself this year with stints in composites, the wind tunnel and sub-assembly," he continued, speaking of his hands-on experience. "I like the people and the atmosphere within the factory is really good. I'm now in a race seat and I'm really looking forward to next year."

In view of his resume, the team is holding high expectations regarding Hulkenberg. However the rookie insists that when his maiden F1 season gets under way, he will be racing on the fine line between getting results and pushing too hard.

"Of course they are expecting something otherwise they wouldn't have put me in the car, but I think their expectations are realistic," he said. "I just want to deliver consistently and do a good job for the team. I'd like to have some good races and score points.

"I can't ensure anything," the German added. "All I can do is work hard over the winter. I'll take all of the tests that I get and I will use the simulator at Grove as much as I can. I'll prepare well with my engineers and then hit the track and go racing and see where we are in Bahrain. "

Rubens Barrichello will be switching from Brawn GP to Williams over the winter, ahead of his 18th season of Formula One racing. Having the sport's most experienced driver as teammate is a very positive situation for Hulkenberg: "As a rookie in Formula One, you couldn't ask for a better person to be your teammate - it's a good combination.

"I can learn a lot from him and his experience, particularly by seeing how he works over a race weekend," he pointed out.

Williams' last Grand Prix victory took place at the 2004 season's closing round in Brazil with Juan Pablo Montoya at the wheel of the BMW-motorized FW26. This year the team ended the 2009 championship in seventh position.

Hulkenberg is hoping that 2010 will be the year when things turn around for Williams, but the team must wait for the new Cosworth-powered FW32 to begin track testing next February before judging the car's potential in relation to the competition.

"I'm in the factory a lot so I see how hard the guys work, but you never really know how quickly and effectively the other teams' development programmes are going until you get to the track," he said. "The hope is always there."

Daniel BASTIEN
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