Team Australia A1GP driver John Martin will move a step closer to his dream of Formula One with a guest drive in the Formula Renault 3.5 support race at this weekend’s Monaco Formula One Grand Prix.

Martin, 24, will pilot one of ex-Lotus Formula One driver Martin Donnelly’s Comtec Racing cars around the demanding 3.340km street circuit.

Not having been to the principality before, not even as a spectator, the 2006 Australian Formula Ford champion said he goes into the event with no real expectations but is hoping for a good result.

“I have never seen the place before, let alone turned a lap around there,” said Martin. “But I have driven it on the PlayStation. So I am not really going into it with any expectations; not having been there before and not having driven a Formula Renault 3.5 car before. But a podium would be an awesome result.”

With Renault utilising the Formula Renault 3.5 category and its World Series by Renault to unearth its next crop of Formula One drivers, coupled with the prestige of Monaco, the weekend presents Martin with a chance to impress possible future employers.

“It is certainly a cool place to race,” said Martin. “All the Formula One bosses will be there, along with the GP2 team owners, so that is always a good thing.

“I have always wanted to race at Monaco and if one day I find myself with my dream come true in Formula One then at least I will be familiar with the circuit; it is not like you get opportunities to race there very often being a street circuit. So the more prepared I am the better.

“(Sebastian) Vettel went straight from Formula Renault to Formula One so who knows?”

The Formula Renault 3.5 is powered by a 3.5 litre, 24 valve, V6 engine which produces in excess of 425hp and Martin expects the 600kg Dallara will prove slightly slower than his more familiar A1GP mount and its 600hp, 4.5 litre V8.

“From what I am told they have a lot of grip but lack a bit of power,” said Martin. “Lap times for Formula Renault 3.5 are just a bit slower than an A1GP car.”

While the car maybe different, there is some familiarity on Martin’s side.

“I am working with my data engineer from A1GP, Ash Edwards, so that will be good,” said Martin. “I am really looking forward to Monaco. Comtec are a great bunch of guys and Martin (Donnelly) has so much experience and is a funny guy to be around.”

Race week at Monaco sees a free practice session for Formula Renault 3.5 on Thursday from 8.30 to 9.15am, qualifying on Saturday from 9 to 9.55am and a 25 lap race on Sunday morning from 11.13am, the penultimate race before the Grand Prix gets underway at 2pm.