Motor racing-Alfa Romeo retain Calderon as F1 test driver

Alfa Romeo will give Colombian Tatiana Calderon more opportunities to drive a Formula One car this season after announcing on Friday she was staying on as a test driver. The 25-year-old joined in a testing role last year, when the team were known as Sauber, and tried out a 2013 car at Ferrari's Fiorano track in November.

She will make her Formula Two debut this year after previously competing in GP3, one rung further down, where her best result was a sixth place at Monza last year. In October she became the first Latin American woman to drive a Formula One car in an official capacity when she got behind the wheel of the Sauber for filming at Mexico City's Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.

"She delivered a good performance when she was given the opportunity to drive a Formula One car for the first time last season and has proven to be a valuable member of our team," said principal Frederic Vasseur. "Together, we will work on further developing Tatiana’s skills as a driver and the Alfa Romeo Racing project."

Formula One has not had a woman driver start a grand prix since Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)