with Force India in Abu Dhabi

Antonio Felix da Costa has been confirmed as a participant in this year's Formula 1 testing session for rookie drivers - November 16-17 - at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit, in Abu Dhabi. Antonio will drive for Force India F1 Team during this event and by doing so the 19 year old driver will become the youngest Portuguese driver ever to sit in a Formula 1 car.

Felix da Costa, who is the new 2010 Formula 3 Euroseries Rookie Champion, with three victories and four podiums, nowsees his dream come true. The young champion is about to join the exclusive group of drivers privileged to have driven a Formula 1 car: "Driving for Force India F1 Team in this test will be a memorable day in my career and I hope the first of many more at the wheel of a Formula 1 car. Force India is a fierce and very consistent team, and with lots of ambition that has been evolving throughout the last few years, so I expect to show all my potential and achieve a good performance. I've just been in England at Force India headquarters in Silverstone for a first contact with the team and all its staff. I've molded my seat and I had the opportunity to have my first contact with the Yas Marina racetrack on the simulator. I would like to thank Force India for this opportunity and also Tiago Monteiro and Sowhat Management, who have relentlessly supported my career in a very professional way" stated the Portuguese prospect at this significant moment of hisstill young but fruitful motorsport career.

Former F1 driver Tiago Monteiro who currently manages Antonio Felix da Costa's career together with Sowhat, stated:"I know that some of the F1 teams have closely followed Antonio's evolution as a driver, not only at F3 level, but also on the two GP3 races he entered this year. His approach and ability to understand and adapt to the track, the ease with which he fits in a team and considering his performance and results so far, will all certainly prove beneficial during his first F1 test. This test will be a golden opportunity at an important time of Antonio's path to Formula 1. Antonio is very talented, very focused on his work, and I strongly believe that he will do a good job with the team, which might open many doors in his future".

After Tiago Monteiro's participation in the 2005 and 2006 World Formula 1 seasons, António Felix da Costa embodies the national hope for having once again a Portuguese driver in Formula 1.