He’s geared to burn rubber at F1 speeds and now Jolyon Palmer, son of Brands Hatch circuit owner Jonathan, has won promotion to race for Lotus in Formula One.

He is currently the team’s reserve driver but will partner Pastor Maldonado in his F1 race debut in 2016.

The move sees 24-year-old Jolyon follow firmly in the footsteps of his father Jonathan, an ex-F1 driver, and today chief executive at Brands Hatch.

Lotus team boss Gerard Lopez said: “We’ve seen Jolyon’s hard work and talent in the way he has approached his role.

“As well as having a great future ahead of him behind the wheel, Jolyon is an intelligent and highly marketable asset to the team. He deserved this opportunity.”

Speaking on his official website, Jolyon said: “It feels pretty unbelievable!

“It’s been such a long journey and I’m so glad to have been confirmed as race driver with the team next year.

“A lot of hard work has gone into preparing for this to happen and into proving what I’m capable of delivering. I’m absolutely ready for it now!”

He added: “F1 is another level. The technology involved is immense and so advanced, there is a lot to get your head around.

“Also working with so many engineers and the team as a whole is a completely different experience to GP2.”

Lotus are in the process of being taken over by Renault which announced last month that it had signed a letter of intent to buy a controlling interest in the team. Talks are set to go on until December.

For the time being, Jolyon – the reigning GP2 champion – will continue to take part in several free practice sessions at Grand Prix weekends throughout 2015, contributing to the car’s testing and development.

In his new role in F1, he will be hoping to repeat his success in GP2. In 2014, driving for French team DAMS, he scored the most points ever in a season (256) and notched up the most consecutive points finishes (19), to become the first Briton since Lewis Hamilton in 2006 to win the F1 feeder series.

His dad Jonathan is chief executive of the MSV Group, which owns and operates Brands Hatch. He took up racing in 1981 when he won the British F3 title and then two years later the European F2 championship. He then spent six years in F1 followed by a long, successful career in world sportscar racing with Porsche.

Jonathan retired from race driving in 1991 and alongside his business ventures, also worked with the BBC F1 commentary team for six years, partnering Murray Walker.

Jolyon’s younger brother Will is a multiple racewinner in BRDC F4 single seaters.

Video: Today's news on KMTV