The 2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer has his fingers crossed for a FP1 debut with Manor at Silverstone in two weeks.

Leimer hoped to make his bow in Austria, having signed up as Manor’s new reserve and Friday driver just ahead of the recent Canadian grand prix.

Swiss Leimer, 26, did travel to the Red Bull Ring, but ultimately only for checks with the FIA as he progresses his application for a super licence.

“For 40 minutes,” he told Blick newspaper, “they checked my data, performed memory tests and coordination exercises.”

Leimer was hoping to drive on Friday, but his manager had admitted in Canada that it would depend on their raising of sufficient sponsorship.

Taking part in the post-race test at the Red Bull Ring next week had also been a possibility, but without Leimer’s backing, Manor will now not run at all.

“Unfortunately I can’t drive here,” Leimer admitted. “Now I’m hoping for Silverstone, but at the moment it’s best just to wait.”

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This article was originally published on grandprix247.com.