Carroll and Rossiter join BAR

B*A*R HONDA MAKES COMMITMENT TO YOUNG DRIVERS

Lucky Strike B*A*R Honda has rewarded two members of its Young Driver Programme by signing a long-term agreement between them and the team following their impressive performances this season. 22-year-old Adam Carroll and James Rossiter, aged 21, join the team's current four-man race and test driver line-up with immediate effect and will steadily gain track time in the B*A*R Honda 007 over the coming months.

The B*A*R Honda Young Driver Programme was established in the autumn of 2004. The initiative, led by Sporting Director Gil de Ferran and Senior Race Engineer Jock Clear, is designed to help develop emerging motorsport talent from which the team could potentially benefit in the longer-term.

Adam is currently competing in the GP2 series which supports the European rounds of the Formula One calendar. After five races he is second in the Championship with seven rounds remaining. James is currently lying 3rd in the Formula 3 Euroseries at the mid-point of the season.

At the same time as making their mark in these junior formulae, as members of the Young Driver Programme, Adam and James have benefited from track time in the B*A*R Honda 2004 racecar, a comprehensive programme of technical assistance with their respective racing programmes and the same level of fitness and human performance coaching enjoyed by the team's race drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato.

In addition to the experience he has of the B*A*R Honda 006, Adam was invited to join the team's regular testing programme in Jerez two weeks ago, where he got his first taste of this year's B*A*R Honda 007 race car. Both Adam and James will now be steadily integrated into the team for the remainder of the F1 season whilst continuing to compete in their current formulae.

Commenting on this exciting move for both drivers, Project Leader Jock Clear said: "We are delighted to sign Adam and James at B*A*R Honda and to see that all of the effort that has been put into the Young Driver Programme is starting to reap rewards for both the team and the drivers."

"They have both clearly demonstrated the high standard of their racing skills in their respective formulae this season, and we feel that the time is right for them to make the next step. Whilst our Young Driver Programme will continue to focus on their all round development, they now become available for testing duties, and with that comes the responsibility of making a positive contribution to the team's progress."

Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director at B*A*R Honda, commented: "Adam and James have clearly demonstrated enormous talent and success to date. That alone shows tremendous potential. We are delighted to have them on board and hopefully our relationship will help them develop their considerable skills and reward our support for them."

Adam Carroll said: "This is fantastic news for me and I hope this is where my racing career will really start to take off now. Being part of the Young Driver Programme has been a great opportunity to get behind the scenes in Formula One and understand exactly what it takes to be a Grand Prix driver, because there's no other formula quite like it."

"I have learned so much about the car and how to work on my fitness, and this has been a tremendous bonus for me in competition this year. I'm really looking forward to the future with B*A*R Honda."

James Rossiter commented: "This is a great opportunity for me and a dream come true, especially as this is only my fourth season of motor racing. The Young Driver Programme has already been a huge step in my career and has really helped me progress in all aspects. B*A*R Honda and its partners have put a lot of effort into the programme and I am very thankful for the trust that they have placed in my abilities."

"This doesn't mean that everything is done for me, I still have a great deal to learn and accomplish in my career and it is up to me to put the hard work in to achieve the targets set by the team. It will be great to get in the car and work with the team in the future."

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