Leimer paying ‘hundreds of thousands’ for Sauber test

A young Swiss is paying handsomely to test Sauber’s 2011 car next month.

The Hinwil based team announced last week that 22-year-old Fabio Leimer will get a day at the wheel of the Ferrari-powered C30 during mid November’s Abu Dhabi young driver test.

“We are pleased we can offer Fabio this opportunity,” said team boss Monisha Kaltenborn.

But according to the Swiss newspaper Blick, Sauber might also be pleased to be banking hundreds of thousands of euros.

GP2 driver Leimer was at Sauber’s Swiss factory on Monday for a seat fitting.

There, he confirmed: “Yes, we have had to pay for this test.  That’s just the way it is in formula one, but first you have to be in the position to do so.”

Leimer would not reveal how much the Sauber ride is costing, but Blick said Toro Rosso is selling its Abu Dhabi test day – probably to Frenchman Charles Pic – for EUR 200,000.

“So with Sauber, the amount is probably in the hundreds of thousands,” said reporter Stefan Meier.

© RIF | GMM