Max Chilton makes his GP2 debut at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this month.

The 18-year-old, one of the most talented drivers of his generation, will drive for the successful Barwa Addax team, and has been handed a golden opportunity to fast track his career to Formula One.

The GP2 Asia race will feature as a support event to the Grand Prix.

Chilton, winner of the Challenge Cup for the top British driver in the British Formula Three championship, will spend the winter with the team. He will be contesting the eight round GP2 Asia Series in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

And if results go in his favour he is expected to land a drive with them for the 2010 season in GP2, the main feeder series to F1.

Last week Chilton was one of five drivers invited to test with the Barwa Addax team at Jerez in Spain over three days.

Despite being hampered by bad luck and a back injury, Chilton impressed with his work ethic and professionalism.

During the first morning session he ran off the track breaking his front wing, and injuring his back but got back in the car later in the day when he was affected by engine problems and the session being stopped early.

On the second day he had limited track time and was unable to show his true potential, but the team said he "looked set to make the step up to this level."

Chilton, who collected a win and second place in the final weekend of the British F3 International season at Brands Hatch, knows he has to be on the pace.

Two years ago he became the youngest ever British F3 driver when he raced on his 16th birthday.

The Norwood Hill ace and former Reigate schoolboy, finished the year with three straight podiums, including one outright win and a class win as the top British driver at Portimao in Portugal.

He finished fourth in this year's championship, 18 points adrift of the runners-up spot.

He has also had a one-off drive in World Series by Renault at Monaco.

"It's still only my third year in single-seaters which people forget," said Chilton, whose ambition is to race in Formula One.

"Most drivers do a couple of years in other things before they go on to F3. I think I've done pretty well.

"I've got a lot of pole positions and my first race win. I have to step up to bigger things."

He managed 52 laps at Jerez, at one time running faster than five times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb, who was also having his first taste of GP2.

"Considering how little running I managed to get in the car, I'm happy to have set the lap time I did," admitted Chilton.

"The cars were awesome, very powerful and now I'm feeling what real high speed is all about.

"There are areas I will need to concentrate on to improve my performance mainly with the braking and high levels of downforce, but generally it was no harder than I had expected.

"I'm happy that with more laps and experience I will be competitive and I'm looking forward to the next opportunity to test which will be at Abu Dhabi before the race.

"Hopefully I won't have the problems there that have limited my running in Jerez."

The GP2 Winter Series will run at Abu Dhabi on October 31-November 1 and February 5-6 before moving on to Bahrain for February 26-27 and March 13-14.

Around all this the teenager will return to F3 with Carlin Motorsport, for the prestigious Macau F3 race on November 19-22.

The F3 Grand Prix is a main feature to the F1 event, featuring national F3 champions and drivers from across the world.

One of the most demanding circuits in the world, victory in the race often heralds a career in F1. Famous winners include Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and David Coulthard.