APRIL 17, 2010

HRT announces Yamamoto as reserve driver

Hispania Racing has announced today that it has signed former Super Aguri and Spyker driver Sakon Yamamoto as it's test and reserve driver for the 2010 season.

Sakon Yamamoto, Hungarian GP 2007
© The Cahier Archive

Hispania Racing (HRT) has announced today that it has signed former Super Aguri and Spyker driver Sakon Yamamoto as it's test and reserve driver for the 2010 season, and will see him take part in Friday practice sessions for the team.

The 27 year-old Japanese driver competed in 14 grand prix during the 2006 and 2007 seasons - replacing Franck Montagny at Super Aguri, and then driving for Spyker with his best result being a 12th place at the Japanese GP in 2007.

Yamamoto commented: "I am very pleased to be joining the HRT F1 Team. It is fantastic to be part of a new team and I hope I will be able to gather useful data whenever possible on Friday for the race drivers. I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Karun and Bruno this year. I'm proud to work with this Spanish team, because Spain is like my second home as I also live in Barcelona."

Team boss Colin Kolles said: "It's a great pleasure for us to have signed Japanese Sakon Yamamoto as our test driver and reserve race driver for the 2010 season. I am confident that his input into the development of our car will be useful and means another reinforcement of our team as the European season starts in Barcelona. We look forward to welcoming Sakon to the team and working closely with him. His addition makes HRT F1 Team one of the most international teams in the paddock."