Highlights

Japan's Yamamoto in line for F1 race drive

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-09 09:20

SILVERSTONE, England, June 8 - Japan's Sakon Yamamoto is in line for a Formula One race debut later this season after being signed up as Super Aguri's third driver on Thursday.

Formula One's newest team have been looking for a suitable Japanese replacement since rookie Yuji Ide was stripped of his super licence after four races.

France's Franck Montagny has raced as a stand-in for the last three grands prix and has been confirmed for this weekend's British round at Silverstone as well as Canada and the United States.

Super Aguri said in a statement that Yamamoto, who carried out the Friday testing role for Jordan in Japan last year and has been racing in his country's Formula Nippon, would be their third driver for the next three races.

A team spokeswoman confirmed that the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) had granted Yamamoto a super-licence allowing him to race in Formula One.

The next three races will allow him to gain mileage before a possible race debut at the French Grand Prix on July 16, unless the team decide to allow Montagny, France's only current Formula One driver, a home appearance.

"I am very happy to be coming back into Formula One with Super Aguri," Yamamoto said in a statement. "I will try to do my best in my new role as SAF1 Team third driver and give the team good feedback from my time in the car."

Honda-powered Super Aguri, run by former racer Aguri Suzuki, entered Formula One this year with Formula One's first all-Japanese lineup of Takuma Sato and Ide.