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Formula 2 champion Luciano Bacheta will drive a 2011 Williams Formula 1 car at Silverstone on October 18.

The 22-year-old has been given the opportunity as his prize for winning the F2 crown. Bacheta has previously competed on the F1 package in GP3, but the F2 championship is his first senior title.

"I had no idea it would be so soon. I've received a measurement chart for the race suit and we'll ramp up the preparation now," said Bacheta.

After a dominant start to the F2 season gave him an early points lead, the Romford driver said he had begun preparing for the F1 chance before the title was confirmed at the end of September.

"All year while I was leading the championship I was thinking that I could be driving a grand prix car so I've been training with F1 in mind," he said.

"I'm so excited and I'm really motivated for it and even before I won the championship I thought I would be ready for it."

The last two F2 champions, Mirko Bortolotti and Dean Stoneman, were able to join the F1 young driver tests in Abu Dhabi for their Williams prize drives, but this year the squad used its rookie test allowance at Silverstone in July, running its reserve Valtteri Bottas.