Three drivers to have graced the podium in this year's GP2 Series will get a chance to sample Formula One power for the first time after being invited to run at next month's opening off-season test in Barcelona.
Race winners Luca Filippi and Andreas Zuber will join Britain's Mike Conway in the garage at the Circuit de Catalunya as part of the team's 'commitment to the development of young motorsport talent', with all three scheduled to hit the track over 13-15 November.
Ron Meadows, sporting director at Honda F1, has senior responsibility for the Young Driver Programme and admitted that the team was keen to take a look at all three drivers.
"Honda is committed to developing promising young talent in motorsport and we will take this opportunity to have a closer look at three young drivers who have done very well in the GP2 series this year," he said, "We will also be evaluating their potential to assist Honda in the future with our testing requirements."
Although Adam Carroll and James Rossiter previously fell under the scheme's umbrella, neither made it to the race team, with Carroll quitting altogether to seek opportunities elsewhere and Rossiter being farmed out to test with 'junior' team Super Aguri. Conway, however, has been part of the Young Driver Programme since March, and has worked closely with the Honda team throughout his debut season in GP2.
Super Nova International team-mate Filippi broke through in GP2 this year, winning the opening round in Bahrain and going on to push for the title until the final rounds. He eventually lost out on fourth in the standings to Giorgio Pantano, courtesy of the more experienced Italian's superior win tally. Filippi had been rumoured as under consideration for a possible testing role at Ferrari, but Honda has moved to offer him a first real opportunity in F1.
Zuber, meanwhile, will make his F1 debut after a frustrating second season in GP2. The UAE-domiciled Austrian had expected to challenge iSport International team-mate Timo Glock for the title, only to be thwarted by a series of mechanical problems.
