Vettel to race in World Series by Renault

As well as his role as test and reserve driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team, Sebastian Vettel will also go racing in the 2007 season. The 19-year old from Heppenheim in Germany will compete for the British team Carlin Motorsport in the World Series by Renault.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen explains: "With this programme Sebastian will get more racing experience and extend his overall experience as well. This is an important factor in the career of such a young driver. Furthermore for us it was important that Sebastian does not have to compete in two different racing series over a Formula One weekend. This finally led to the decision against a drive in the GP2 series."

Sebastian Vettel looks forward to his programme in the forthcoming season: "To be confirmed as test and reserve driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team meant a big step for me. At the same time I am glad I can go racing and continue to learn with the Carlin team, which I already know. If there are any clashes in dates, Formula One has priority, that much is clear."

The calendar for the World Series, in which 425 bhp 3.5 litre V6 engines are used, has a total of 17 races.

Robert Kubica, who began the 2006 season as test and reserve driver for the new BMW Sauber F1 Team before being promoted to a race driver, won the World Series by Renault in 2005.