Formula Renault 3.5 points-leader Oliver Rowland is to make a guest appearance in the GP2 series at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend.

The Racing Steps Foundation-backed driver will partner Daniel de Jong in the Dutch-Anglo MP Motorsport squad.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to race in front of my home crowd,” said Rowland. “I can’t thank MP Motorsport and the RSF enough for setting this up for me.

“I raced with the team in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup championship in 2013 and built up a really strong relationship with them.

“Regrettably after all the hard work we put in, we missed out on the title that year by 16 points. So it would be good if I could repay them and the RSF for the belief that they continue to show in me with a strong result this weekend.”

MP Motorsport’s Tony Shaw who helped to facilitate the deal added: “As a team we rate Oliver highly. So we are really looking forward to having him in our car this weekend.

Welcoming the news, British Racing Drivers’ Club president Derek Warwick said: “I’m delighted that the RSF and MP Motorsport have been able to pull off this last minute deal.

“I’m a big supporter of Oliver’s and welcome the chance for him to show the British fans what he’s capable of.

“We’re expecting a record crowd of 140,000 this weekend, so to have another British racing driver on the grid is terrific news for the BRDC and Silverstone.

“It goes without saying that all the British drivers will be doing their level best to give the crowd plenty to cheer about and that they in turn will get behind the drivers to give them that extra lift that only the British fans can.”

RSF Press Release