Following several days of speculation, John Booth, team leader of Manor, announced that Alexander Rossi would replace Roberto Merhi for five races between now and the end of the year, starting with the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

The young American will have to skip the Grand Prix of Russia and Abu Dhabi as he lays second in the GP2 Series and needs to defend his position. The top spot is unattainable, with Stoffel Vandoorne light years (nearly 100 points) ahead but Rossi has to be careful not to be pipped at the post by his pursuers.

There is a growing tendency for GP2 Series contenders to switch back and forth between single-seater and endurance races, as illustrated by Mitch Evans and Richie Stanaway for example. Rossi was among the trend setters: in 2013, he raced a Zytek at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with notorious talent-spotter Greaves Motorsport. Rossi and his teammates, Tom Kimber-Smith – who has won his class three times out of six attempts at Le Mans – and Eric Lux finished tenth in LM P2. He’s unlikely to rank that high for his maiden Formula One race this weekend, but with his 24th birthday around the corner, just taking part should be cause enough for celebration.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated from French by Emma Paulay

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2013, AUTOGRAPH SESSION. Alexander Rossi, between Eric Lux and Tom Kimber-Smith, a few days before his first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013.