Sean Gelael - Courtesy of sean-gelael.com

Indonesia’s Formula Two driver Sean Gelael is getting closer to becoming the country’s second person in the world’s top Formula One race after receiving a test driver role with Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR) for the 2017 season in three races.

“I feel like I am dreaming,” Sean said in a statement.

“[Being the test driver] will certainly motivate me. But it also means a challenge because I have to maintain my performance in the F2,” said the 20-year-old, who finished 15th in his debut at F1 feeder’s 2016 GP2 series.

“It has been the biggest thing that has happened in my racing career […] Thank you Toro Rosso for giving me the opportunity,” added the 20-year-old.

In 2017 F2, Sean will drive for Britain-based Arden Motorsport, which is affiliated with F1’s team Red Bull Racing. Arden was founded by Garry Horner, the father of Christian Horner’s Red Bull Racing.

Meanwhile, Toro Rosso is the junior team of Red Bull Racing. Both the F1 teams are owned by Austrian beverage company Red Bull. STR aims at developing the skills of promising drivers for the senior team. Since 2010, the team has competed entirely independently of its sister team.

By nailing the test driver role, Sean is following in Rio Haryanto’s footsteps. Rio is Indonesia’s first F1 driver, who joined the race for half of a season with now-defunct Manor Racing in 2016.

Rio earned the test driver role at age 17 with Marussia Virgin Racing in 2010.

Sean, who will drive for Arden Motorsport in 2017 F2 — the renamed GP2 — will be at the first 2017 in-season test in Bahrain in April, in Hungary just before the August break and in the season closer in Abu Dhabi in November.

Sean’s father Ricardo Gealel runs the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise for Indonesia.

The STR welcomed Sean on the team’s official Twitter account, @tororossospy, on Wednesday.

“Meanwhile in Faenza, seat-fitting for @gelaelized. Welcome Sean! He will be our test driver in Bahrain, Hungary and Abu Dhabi,” wrote STR on its official Twitter account, @tororossospy.

Regardless of being a junior team, Toro Rosso has successfully produced Sebastian Vettel, the four-time world champion with Red Bull.

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