European Formula 3 champion Estaban Ocon will test drive for Lotus in Spain later this month.
The 18-year-old, who has been part of the constructor's junior development programme for the last four years, will take a spin in the same car which gave Kimi Raikkonen victory at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
However, team boss Gerard Lopez is adamant that Ocon is ready to take his chance based on his recent form.
He said: "Esteban is a tremendous talent for the future. He has shown himself to be a superb driver as part of our Lotus F1 Team Junior programme, we are proud of him and he truly deserves to be given every opportunity to take his career to the next level.
"To that end he will start testing in the Lotus F1 Team simulator at Enstone this week ahead of driving the E20 at Valencia later this month."
Lotus have endured a dismal season thus far, scoring just eight points in 16 races.
Chris O'Keefe
