HONDA RACING F1 TEAM ANNOUNCES 2007 TEST DRIVER LINE-UP
The Honda Racing F1 Team is pleased to announce its test
driver line-up for the 2007 Formula One season. Joining race
drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will be Christian
Klien in the role of Test and Reserve Driver, while James
Rossiter steps up to the role of an official test driver.
Christian brings with him a wealth of experience which belies
his 23 years of age. He has raced in 46 Grands Prix in the
three seasons since his F1 debut at the 2004 Australian Grand
Prix, prior to which he worked his way up through the ranks
of karting, Formula BMW, Formula Renault and the Formula 3
Euroseries.
Christian assumes the lead testing role from Anthony Davidson,
who has secured a race seat with the Super Aguri F1 Team next
season. The Austrian will join the Honda Racing F1 Team when
winter testing gets underway from the end of November. In
addition to his regular testing duties, Christian will attend
Grands Prix with the team and will be on stand-by if required
to substitute for either race driver in a Grand Prix at short
notice.
Sporting Director Gil de Ferran comments,
"I would like to welcome Christian to the Honda Racing
F1 Team as he takes up his new role as our Test and Reserve
Driver. Christian has accumulated a great deal of experience
in Formula One over the past three years and this should prove
extremely valuable to us given the limitations placed on teams
by the new testing regulations. We expect Christian to play
an important role in the development of the RA107 and we look
forward to working very closely with him in the winter, together
with James who steps up to be an official test driver for
us.
"On behalf of everyone at the Honda Racing F1 Team,
I would like to offer our congratulations to Anthony on his
new role at the Super Aguri F1 Team. We are absolutely delighted
that Anthony has achieved his long-standing ambition of a
Formula One race drive, a role that he certainly deserves.
In his six years with our team, Anthony's commitment, loyalty
and overall contribution have been crucial to our continued
progress and competitiveness. Whilst we are sad to lose such
a valuable asset, we wish him all the very best of luck and
are pleased to know that he will be remaining within the Honda
family."
Commenting on his new role as Test and Reserve Driver with
Honda, Christian Klien said, "I am very proud to be joining
the Honda Racing F1 Team. This is a fantastic opportunity
for me to work with one of the top manufacturers in Formula
One and alongside two of the best race drivers. I have three
years of F1 experience to contribute and I am looking forward
to helping Honda to achieve its ambitions. Equally, I have
a great opportunity to progress my own career. I am very much
looking forward to driving the car for the first time when
winter testing begins."
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