Andretti Green Racing, the team behind the Team USA entry in the 2008/09 A1GP season, has revealed that Charlie Kimball will be at the wheel for this weekend's season opener at Zandvoort.

The former F3 racer has taken part in rookie sessions in A1GP in the past, and was with the team for four events last season, but will be making his race debut in the Netherlands in what will be the first race weekend for the new Powered by Ferrari chassis.

Such was the late nature of the announcement that AGR will run the USA car, the deal for Kimball to drive was equally last minute but the 23-year-old Californian said he was ready and raring to go.

"This is a fantastic opportunity,” he said. “It all happened pretty quick so I don't believe it has completely sunk in yet. I was going a mile-a-minute just to get packed and ready to go, and my adrenaline was pumping about the same way it does when I'm in the race car. It wasn't until I was on the airplane that I could really take a minute to think about it.

"This is a big deal to me. It's nice to be given the opportunity to race this weekend. What the Andretti Green crew has accomplished this week to get our car prepared and race-ready is truly amazing.

"Being involved with an institution like the Andretti family and with a team as successful as Andretti Green is something that is hard to describe. And, to be able to represent my country in my chosen sport is a very special experience. I'm not the most patient guy in the world, so I can't wait for the weekend to get here."

Team co-owner Michael Andretti said he was pleased to have Kimball onboard for the weekend, adding that he was looking forward to seeing what he does at the wheel.

"We're excited to have Charlie in the car for our A1GP debut this weekend. He has some experience with the series and has had some success at the Zandvoort circuit,” he said. “That experience is invaluable for us right now. We have heard good things about his abilities and we're looking forward to seeing what he can do."