Philippe to become STR test driver?

By Andrew Cutler
April 2 2007

A report on F1 Live.com suggests that Scuderia Toro Rosso is about to name young Frenchman Nelson Philippe as their test driver. Philippe was seen in the paddock at the season opener in Melbourne with former Minardi boss Paul Stoddart, who now owns the CCWS team that Nelson drove for in 2006.

Despite being only twenty years old, Philippe has three seasons in the Champ Car series under his belt. Driving at first for back-marker teams, Nelson gained a reputation as a smart and mature racer, which helped him move up to CTE-HVM Racing in 2006. He scored podiums for them in Milwaukee and Monteal and his first victory in Surfers Paradise.

There is no "offical" word just yet from anyone at STR regarding this rumour.