BATHURST’s international driving coach Mike Reedy will return home to Australia in a little over a week for the Christmas period, but not before he helps his protege Richard ‘Spike’ Goddard compete in what will be his biggest test yet.

Goddard will make his Formula One debut on Wednesday, November 26 at the 2014 Formula One Young Drivers Test at Abu Dhabi, and with him – as he has been for the entire journey that started in 2009 at Wakefield Park  – will be Reedy, the youngster’s driver coach and tutor.

With many years racing experience behind him in the United Kingdom, including a win in the 1986 World Formula Ford Team Cup with Russell Ingall and Neil Cunningham, Reedy was ideally placed to open several doors for Goddard.

Firstly, Reedy got Goddard into a British Formula Ford team, followed by British Formula 3, where he won the National Class in 2012, and that was followed by the highly competitive FIA European F3 in 2013 driving for T-Sport Formula 3. 

There Reedy was employed as a driver coach  and remained personal coach and tutor for Goddard.

The 22-year-old from Mosman in Sydney’s north, will share the testing duties at the Yas Marina circuit with newly crowned GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer, who has also been selected by the Silverstone-based team.

Goddard will make his F1 debut when he jumps behind the wheel of the VJM07 next Wednesday for the final day of the Abu Dhabi test.

“Every young racing driver dreams to be at the wheel of a Formula One car and I am really happy for Spike that he has now got this opportunity,” Reedy said.