The AT&T Williams team confirmed the appointment of Valtteri Bottas as its official test driver.Valtteri, a 20-year old from Nastola, Finland, will take up the role vacated by NicoHulkenberg as he steps up as a team race driver.

Having begun karting at the age of six,Bottas has a strong record of success with seven years in the Finnish national squad. In2006, he concluded his karting career by winning the WSK International Series Formula A,Finnish Formula A and Finnish ICA. In 2007, he moved to Formula Renault where, in 2008,he won both the Eurocup and NEC championships with 17 wins and 22 podiums from 28starts. In 2009, he graduated to Formula 3 with ART and was the highest placed rookie,finishing third in the championship with six second place finishes and two pole positions inthe 10-round Euroseries Championship. He also won the F3 Masters last year.

On his appointment, AT&T Williams Team Principal Frank Williams said, “Valtterri’s CV isvery impressive, with a long list of success in the right junior formulae. We hope that the roleof official test driver in our squad will provide him with another step in his development. Wewish him all the best in the Formula Three Euroseries this season.”

Valtteri said, “This is a great way to start 2010. I am very honoured to have been selected bya team as prestigious as AT&T Williams, one of the most significant names in the sport. Thisis an important step in my career but now the real work starts to get to the top. I am sure Iwill learn a lot with the team and I trust that together we will achieve great results for theyears to come. This opportunity gives me even more positive energy to improve as a driverand achieve my future targets as my ultimate goal will be to become Formula One WorldChampion one day. I take the opportunity to thank Sir Frank Williams and the seniormanagement of the team and also to thanks my management and my sponsors for all theirwork and support so far.”