Four other drivers, apart from Kerr, have seen the World Series as a last refuge for their
F1 ambitions, with Hayanari Shimoda turning his attention from GP2 and joining Parente at Victory, again a move instigated by Carlin. Borja Garcia actually sampled a full season of GP2 last season but, not having made a big enough impact on the series, finds himself at RC Motorsport this year, where he will be partnered by Frenchman Bruce Jouanny, whose own attempts to make the grade foundered on financial problems.
Completing the field this year are two drivers who should receive solid support at the opening round at least, and another who will be little known to many inside the paddock, let alone on the other side of the fences. Greg Franchi moves up from the F3 Euroseries to join WS rookies Prema, while Jerome d'Ambrosio returns for a full season at Tech 1 after managing just a single outing last year. Edwin Jowsey, meanwhile, has been hiding in historic racing in the UK, but is determined to make his mark with fellow newcomer Comtec this year.
The team line-up also received a shake-up over the winter, with one squad deciding that the World Series was not for it, another opting to concentrate on GP2 and a third deciding to follow the sportscar route. Three new faces have thus been recruited, with former racer Simon Abadie's Tech 1 taking over Le Mans-bound Saulnier Racing, Comtec getting the nod to join the series in place of backmarker Avelon and Prema getting a later call to sub for the departing DAMS. All three have decent pedigrees elsewhere and appear to have got to grips with the WS cars during testing, adding to the intrigue ahead.
