Jann Mardenborough will be pitched into his maiden GP2 Series drive on the undercard to the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monza this weekend.

Mardenborough will step into the #4 machine of Sean Gelael who has duties in the clashing Renault 3.5 Series round at Silverstone.

The talented Brit joins Julian Leal in Carlin’s GP2 squad after previously racing for the team’s GP3 Series outfit.

Team boss Trevor Carlin holds Mardenborough in high regard with the 23-year-old standing as one of the bastion’s of Nissan’s GT Academy program which transforms gamers into racers.

“Jann is a very talented and fast driver and has suffered some bad luck this season which means he hasn’t claimed the results he’s capable of,” Carlin said.

“Although this will be a big learning curve for him, we’re pleased to give one of our GP3 drivers the opportunity to step up to the next level and will be focused on helping Jann get the most from the experience.”

Mardenborough had his early grounding in single-seater racing in New Zealand’s established Toyota Racing Series in 2013, where he would finish a close runner-up last year.

“I want to move up to GP2 in the future so to have this experience now is very valuable,” Mardenborough said.

“I want to be competitive but the challenges in GP2 are very different to GP3; with DRS and two tyres compounds, as well as longer races and pit stops, although I’m used to those from sports car racing.

“It’s going to be a big step up but I’m going to give it everything.”

Carlin does not intend to name a replacement for Mardenborough’s GP3 seat this weekend, keeping it vacant for the NISMO star to return for the next round at Sochi in Russia next month.