Marussia name Max Chilton as reserve driver for rest of season

Marussia have named young Briton Max Chilton as their reserve driver for the remainder of the 2012 season.

Chilton has taken part in two young driver test sessions to gain mileage and is fifth in the GP2 standings with one round to go.

The 21-year-old will provide back-up for Timo Glock and Charles Pic.

Team principal John Booth said: "Max's impressive performances in GP2 this season have gone far from unnoticed. He seems to mature with each new round."

Chilton said: "My experience with the team at Silverstone for the young driver test was a great taste of how F1 operates.

"I feel like my racing has really matured this season and to now be able to combine that with real insight into the engineering activities of an F1 team, and the level of preparation required of an F1 driver, really moves my career onto the next level."

Chilton finished fourth in the British Formula Three Championship in 2009 which was enough to earn him a drive in GP2 with Ocean Racing Technology, the feeder series of Formula 1.

He moved to Carlin Racing the following season, which became Marussia Carlin in 2012, securing his first victory in Hungary at the end of July, along with two pole positions.

In July, Marussia reserve driver Maria de Villota lost her right eye when her car hit a lorry's tail gate during a test.