BMW has announced the men who will make up its two-pronged test team during the forthcoming
Formula 1 campaign, with the expected arrival of reigning British F3 Champion Marko Asmer accompanied, perhaps more surprisingly, by the signing of former grand prix ace Christian Klien.
The appointments continue the Munich and Hinwil-based outfit's 2007 policy of employing two testers, and follow the departure of
Timo Glock to a race seat at
Toyota and
Sebastian Vettel to a similar role at
Scuderia Toro Rosso. Klien will assume the position of reserve pilot should one of the squad's regular race drivers be unable to compete.
“We wanted a third driver with Formula 1 racing experience,” explained BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, “as well as an up-and-coming young driver for us to train up to Formula 1 level.
“With Christian we have signed a driver who is familiar with the format of a grand prix weekend and can step into the breach right away should one of our team drivers have to back out.
“Marko has driven our car four times since 4 December and has made steady progress. He has worked in a concentrated, focused and calm fashion. The feedback from the engineers bears positive testimony to him, and the chemistry between him and the team is right as well.”
Klien has made 46 starts in the top flight, for Jaguar and
Red Bull Racing between 2004 and 2006, with a highest qualifying position of fourth and best result of fifth place. Last year the Austrian fulfilled the role of test-driver for
Honda – a position he left, somewhat ironically, in order to pursue a racing return with Spyker/
Force India, for whom he tried out on a number of occasions over the second half of the campaign.
He is known to BMW having competed in Formula BMW ADAC Junior back in 1999, finishing fourth in the title chase at the end of his maiden season of car racing.
