Alexander Rossi will get to drive for the Caterham F1 team during opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix later this month.

The American, who was retained by the squad as one of its reserve pilots this season, will replace race driver Giedo van der Garde.

It will be Rossi’s second practice run during an actual grand prix weekend, as he also got the opportunity last season, when he drove in FP1 in Spain, then replacing Heikki Kovalainen.

“I’m very much looking forward to that because it’s a chance to drive the car and I know the track pretty well. I did GP2 Asia there so, while it’s only 90 minutes, it gives me a chance to make an impression,” Rossi told ESPN.

“The main focus is to carry out the programme for the team, but let’s be real here; motor sport is all about lap times isn’t it? So I’m going to need to find the balance between carrying out the job for the team and performance.

“At the end of the day everybody is going to look down at the results and see how you do, so while you have to ensure you can get through the run plan and you have to save the tyres, you can’t be out for a Sunday drive because that will hurt you in another way.”

van der Garde is expected to sit out four practice sessions during the 2013 F1 season, with Rossi and fellow Caterham reserve pilot Ma Qing Hua due to fill the voids.