Racing Engineering to test Jimenez, Razia.

Racing Engineering is to give two Brazilian youngsters their first taste of GP2 Series action at next week's Jerez group test, having confirmed that Sergio Jimenez and Luiz Razia will run alongside Javier Villa.

The Andalusian team has a record for encouraging young talent, underlined by its decision to sign teenager Villa for its 2006 campaign, and believes that Jimenez and Razia have what it takes to make the grade in GP2 next year.

Jimenez is part of the team's current Spanish F3 line-up, and has impressed team boss Alfonso de Orleans-Borbon with his speed and professionalism during the season. A multiple kart champion in his native Brazil, Jimenez also won the Brazilian Formula Renault Championship before switching to F3.

"Sergio, who we know very well from the F3 Championship, is really fast and a great guy," the team owner commented, "I am glad we could give him the opportunity to prove himself in this very powerful car."

Jimenez will share the team's second car with Villa, while the 17-year old Razia runs both days of the test. Another product of the Brazilian kart, FRenault and F3 scenes, he has raced in both the Spanish F3 and F3000 Masters series this year, winning the Sud-Am F3 crown and taking all three races in the F3000 category at Estoril, despite adverse weather conditions.

"Although he is only 17 years old, Luiz is already quite experienced, although the track, as well as the car, will be new for him," de Orleans Borbon commented, "We should give him time to adapt and, in that sense, it is very good that he will be working with us during both days of this test."

Villa will take over the second car from Jimenez on the second day, in order to continue his preparation for the coming season.

"We have a great mixture of drivers for this test," de Orleans-Borbon concluded, "Although Javier is the only one with experience in the GP2 car, Sergio and Luiz are promising drivers I am eager to see in our cars.

"I don't have to say much about Javi. I think the times from the last test in Paul Ricard speak for themselves. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I am sure we are going the right way."