Jan.25 (GMM) Former Virgin driver Jerome d'Ambrosio will be the third driver for Lotus in 2012.

The 26-year-old Belgian's career is handled by Gravity, the management arm of the former Renault team's owners Genii.

He will "attend all races" this season and be ready to replace Kimi Raikkonen or Romain Grosjean if required, Lotus said in a media statement.

"Of course, I would love to be racing, but racing with a top team," said d'Ambrosio.

"Being associated with Lotus F1 team should be more beneficial and this is the choice I have made," he added.

D'Ambrosio was the Enstone based team's reserve driver in 2010, before making his grand prix debut last year.

Just before the Lotus announcement on Tuesday, his manager Benjamin Mignot told Le Derniere Heure: "They (Lotus) are conscious that if they are going to announce Jerome as the third driver, they should do it before HRT reveals its second driver."

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