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Keep an eye on Daniel Ricciardo.

Right now the 20-year-old from Perth is on the fast track to Formula One and could easily become the next Aussie to win a race — or better — in the grand prix world. Ricciardo has been picked up by Red Bull, the same brand that backs Mark Webber, and this year won his way to the top of the cut-throat British Formula Three championship used by many drivers to springboard into F1.

He gets his first Formula One test in Spain with Red Bull in a fortnight and is pumped about the chance to prove he has the right stuff for the top level of motorsport. “I’m ecstatic. Ecstatic is one word to describe it,” Ricciardo says, speaking from his race base in Britain. “Once I got the news I had to ask them to tell me a few times. It took a while to understand. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was three or four years old. To get a chance to rag one of these things will be a very pleasant day.”

Ricciardo has also won his way up a step from Formula 3 and is confirmed for the World Series by Renault in 2010. And he was quickest in the final World Series test before the winter shutdown in Europe. “It was exactly the way I wanted to do it. It makes the Christmas break a bit more relaxed for me,” he says. “They are a great car to drive. It’s always good having a bit more power and a step up from F3. You have to muscle them around and be a bit more aggressive. At Barcelona, down the straight we were creeping up to 265 or 270 kays.”

Ricciardo was the star from the start in this year’s British F3 series with the Carlin team and says he always had his eye on the championship. “We started off really strong but at the same time Carlin were really strong last year. Everyone was trying to catch up,” he says. “By the third round the others had done their homework. In the mid season we weren’t always the quickest, and I made a few mistatkes, so we tried to grab the points. “Then had a win at Spa, which was good. The rest of the season was trying to win if we could but trying to stay on track for the title.”

Ricciardo is now honing his fitness for the World Series, and there is one race that stands out in his planning. “It’s the support race at Monaco. That’s the one that gives me goosebumps. Just to race there is amazing, but that is one I really want to win.”

But he has his F1 test before starting the World Series and knows what he needs to do. “I think the team want to have a look at me. It’s probably a bit of a reward as well after the season,” Ricciardo says. “I like to think if it goes well I could be a potential test driver.

Not that there’s a lot of testing these days. But it could mean going to a few races. “I’ve got three days. It’s from the first to the third of December. Hopefully it will go well. “I’ve had the seat fitting. It has been a bit of a process all through the week. Making the seat and doing some work on the simulator. “The simulator is like a very good Playstation. From the data they had and showed me, I was pretty much on it by their standards.”

He is planning a break after the test, before focussing on 2010. “Hopefully I’ll get a month. I need to switch off over the summer and take a break.”

But there is no break on the road to Formula One. “For sure I can’t really turn away from it now. I’m a pretty stable kid. I’m pretty relaxed. I guess I keep my feet on the ground,” he says. “For sure I’ve got some good opportunities, with my first official test. Maybe it’s not too far away, but until I’m there in F1 I’ll keep working. “To be honest I’m not in any rapid rush. I would hate to arrive in F1 and not be prepared. I want to be ready, and not take it for granted.”

So what about the timing, and perhaps even the chance to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull once the older Aussie retires? I haven’t really thought about that. It is a possibility,” he admits. “After next year, if it’s a good year with the World Series, for 2011 I think I’ll be prepared.”