His team-mate will be the Brazilian rookie Lucas di Grassi, BBC Radio Sheffield has reported.

BBC: Glock to lead new Manor F1 team

Brazilian novice Lucas di Grassi was unveiled on Tuesday as ex-Toyota driver Timo Glock's team-mate.

BBC: Lucas di Grassi joins new-look Virgin Formula 1 team

"Timo is the reference I have as my starting point, " said Di Grassi.

BBC: Lucas di Grassi joins new-look Virgin Formula 1 team

But at the moment we have Brazilian driver Lucas di Grassi and German driver Timo Glock, and we're perfectly happy with that.

BBC: Russian supercar firm Marussia takes over Virgin Racing

We were sat at the table across from Lucas di Grassi.

BBC: Thursday's F1 testing in Barcelona as it happened

One of those struggling outfits, Virgin Racing, suffered badly from technical problems as a gearbox leakage and telemetry problems blighted Lucas di Grassi and Timo Glock's second sessions.

BBC: Lewis Hamilton fastest in Friday Australian GP practice

Di Grassi, whose move was exclusively predicted by BBC Radio Sheffield, became Renault's reserve driver in 2009 but will now make his F1 race debut with Virgin Racing.

BBC: Lucas di Grassi joins new-look Virgin Formula 1 team

In addition to Campos signing Senna, Lotus have signed experienced race-winners Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen while Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi will drive for Virgin Racing.

BBC: US F1 and Campos deny Bernie Ecclestone's 2010 doubts

The new teams again trailed at the bottom, with the Lotus duo of Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen ahead of Virgin's Lucas di Grassi, HRT's Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna .

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Timo Glock signed a two-year contract with Virgin in 2009 but the German has been linked to other teams, including Renault, while Brazilian Lucas di Grassi's future with Virgin remains uncertain after he lost his main sponsor mid-season.

BBC: Russian supercar firm Marussia takes over Virgin Racing