SEPTEMBER 2, 2004

Sauber plans test with Liuzzi

The Sauber Formula One team announced today that they will be testing Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi in the coming weeks as the team seeks a replacement for Giancarlo Fisichella.

Fisichella will be returning to Renault in 2005 while 22 year old Liuzzi has just won the Formula 3000 championship and is eager to enter Formula One. Liuzzi is backed by the team's sponsor Red Bull and will drive this year's Ferrari powered Sauber C23 at Jerez in southern Spain on September 16. Given these factors Vitantonio is a hopeful candidate for the job.

"While there have been several indications in the past showing that Vitantonio has a lot of talent, what has impressed me most is the way in which he has been dominating Formula 3000 this year," said team boss Peter Sauber.

"During this test we want to get a feeling for how he is able to apply his skills to a Formula One Car."

Sauber also stated they plan to test some other unnamed young drivers for tests at dates yet to be decided.