Australia's newest international motor racing star, 21-year-old Daniel Ricciardo, (pronounced Rickardo) is set to make his grand prix debut in Melbourne.

Ricciardo, of Perth, WA, will drive a Toro Rosso car in the first Formula One official practice session of the year at the Albert Park circuit from 12.30pm, Melbourne time, along with five world champions, experienced Australian Mark Webber and 16 other GP racers.

The track could well be slippery as it has been raining in Melbourne overnight.

After the 90-minute session - in which he could complete about 20 laps, or one-third of a grand prix distance - Ricciardo will have to hand the car over to one of Toro Rosso's race drivers for the rest of the opening GP of the season, Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari (pronounced Heimi Al-ger-soiree).

Former WA karting champion Ricciardo has won 24 junior open-wheeler races in Europe in the past three years, two championships and been runner-up in two others.

He also has been the fastest driver the past two years at official post-season F1 tests for young racers on the cusp of GP racing.

As part of his role as the reserve race driver for Red Bull's two F1 teams - Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso - Ricciardo will take part in the first practice sessions at all 19 GPs scheduled this year.

Alguersuari and Toro Rosso's Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi will alternatively sit on the sidelines during those sessions while Ricciardo gains track experience.

Red Bull Racing supremo Dr Helmut Marko already has said he wants Ricciardo racing in F1 next year.

Apart from his F1 reserve driver duties this year, Ricciardo also is to race for a second season in the World Series by Renault starting in Europe next month.

He finished within two points of the title in his first season last year.

It was through that championship that Germany's 23-year-old reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel advanced to F1.

Ricciardo has raced a car once before in Melbourne - an old Formula Ford at the Sandown track in 2005, when he was only 15 - but there was no clue then that one day he would be driving in F1.

That weekend Ricciardo was 25th out of 28 drivers in practice, 21st in qualifying, 17th and 16th in two races and did not finish a third race.

Several other drivers in those Formula Ford races that weekend have since graduated to V8 Supercar racing.