Lotus reserve driver Jolyon Palmer will have a couple of fresh opportunities to drive the Mercedes-powered E23 Hybrid at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The reigning GP2 Series champion, who joined the Enstone-based team over the winter, will first be in action during the first free practice session of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

This will be Palmer’s third FP1 appearance this year after replacing regular driver Romain Grosjean in China and Bahrain. The 24-year-old is then scheduled to get a second run during next week’s first two-day in-season test where he will feature on Wednesday.

“I am really pleased to be back in the car for Barcelona,” said Palmer.

“It is nice to be back at the track, having already driven the car there in the official pre-season test back in February.

“After a three-week gap since Bahrain, I'm already looking forward to starting the weekend.”

Click here for a look at the radical Honda power unit design

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Julien Billiotte

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