The Super Aguri F1 team has announced that James Rossiter will be joining the team at Paul Ricard this week where he will take up his new position as their test driver.

Rossiter, who was a member of the Honda Racing F1 Team's Young Driver Programme for two years before being promoted to the position of test driver in November 2006, is looking forward to the challenge of helping the Leafield-based outfit, which scored its first ever point in Spain at the weekend. His transfer to the Honda 'B' team takes place with immediate effect.

“I am really pleased to be joining the Super Aguri F1 team as their test driver and look forward to getting to know the team over the next few weeks,” said Rossiter. “This is a great opportunity for me and it will be good to get into the SA07 at the Paul Ricard test on Tuesday and start to help the team with their development programme.

“I would like to say thanks to SAF1 Team for this opportunity and also to the Honda Racing F1 Team for all their support over the past two and a half years. I am very pleased to be staying within the Honda family.”

Super Aguri F1 team boss, Aguri Suzuki meanwhile believes that Rossiter is a great addition to their driver line-up, which includes race drivers, Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, as well as Sakon Yamamoto.

“I am happy to welcome James to the Super Aguri family and that we have the opportunity to work with a young and recognised driving talent,” he added. “I hope that the relationship we build together over the coming year will help James develop into a competitive driver for the future of the sport.”