Pagenaud to World Series with Saulnier.

French driver Simon Pagenaud has signed an deal that will see him contest the 'new' World Series by Renault with Team Saulnier Racing in 2005.

The 20-year old Formula Renault Eurocup runner-up will step up to the series, formed by the merger of FRenault V6 and the former World Series by Nissan, with no prior experience of the more powerful car, but sees no reason why he can't translate his 2004 form into front-running pace.

"This championship is going to be very tough, but I'm currently preparing myself to face this challenge," he revealed, "It's a new car and new championship, so the counter is back at zero. The car is very powerful and features an F1-type gearbox, but the test at Paul Ricard this weekend will allow me to see where I am, and will let me familiarise myself with the car."

Although few seats have been filled ahead of this year's campaign, Pagenaud can expect to face stiff competition from the likes of Pastor Maldonado, Markus Winkelhock and Colin Fleming, who have all agreed deals with leading teams.

"It looks essential to me to have a young driver in the 2005 line-up," team boss Serge Saulnier concluded, "Simon has grown up in the Fili?re Renault scheme, and is very talented, He responds to our needs of having a new young driver in our team but, although he is a young guy, he's also very mature and professional."