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Virgin have signed GP2 driver Jerome D'Ambrosio 'in an evaluation role' for four of this season's five remaining grands prix.

D'Ambrosio will take part in the first free practice session on Friday mornings at the Singapore, Japanese, Korean and Brazilian Grands Prix and the team will be using this opportunity to evaluate his potential.

The 25-year-old Belgian will replace Lucas di Grassi for the first of the Friday morning sessions, driving alongside Timo Glock. In addition he will also take part in the end of season Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.

"My ultimate goal has always been to race in Formula 1 and I am delighted to get a step closer. I wish to thank Virgin Racing and Gravity Sport Management for their confidence. I won't disappoint them," said D'Ambrosio.

"This drive is a fantastic opportunity and I am looking forward to helping the team in every way I can, as well as gaining experience on four of the most demanding tracks of the F1 calendar.

"Looking at the 2011 season, this will be very useful. Also, I will be very proud to wear the Belgian colours on my helmet during these official practice sessions, as it means a lot to me."

Graeme Lowdon, CEO of Virgin Racing, added: "We are very pleased to welcome Jerome to Virgin Racing and we look forward to providing him with the opportunity to drive the VR-01 during the first free practice session of the next four race weekends. He will also take part in our young driver test in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season.

"We have a contract with Timo Glock for another two years and an option on the services of Lucas di Grassi for next year. Both drivers have done an outstanding job for us in our debut season. We are always looking to progress new racing talent and the team out of which Virgin Racing was born has a long history of this.

"Jerome is a real racer and very deserving of this opportunity. We are looking forward to evaluating his performance with effect from next weekend's Singapore Grand Prix."

Jerome d'Ambrosio is on the verge of securing a 2011 race-seat with Virgin Racing, according to his manager Eric Boullier.

D'Ambrosio joined Virgin Racing ahead of the Singapore GP, taking part in Friday practice sessions, allowing the team to evaluate the 25-year-old Belgian.

However, speed is clearly not the only criteria in landing a Virgin race-seat as Boullier, who is in charge of both the Renault F1 team and Genii Capital's driver management arm Gravity, revealed that sponsorship deals are also playing a role.

But, with the majority of the 'package' already in place, he hopes to have Virgin's signature on a race deal for d'Ambrosio before the season ends in Abu Dhabi.

"Almost 95 percent of the package needed to bring Jérôme D'Ambrosio into Formula One is there," Boullier told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper.

"The remaining five percent we will have in a matter of days. Then we will go to Virgin, the team who gave us a concrete proposal for 2011 and with whom Jerome has already taken part in free practices in the last three races.

"Virgin - and their sponsors - want to know as soon as possible where they stand for next year."

He added: "I would love to have a signed contract in his pocket by the last race in Abu Dhabi."