Glock to test BMW Sauber

BMW Sauber has confirmed that Timo Glock will have a chance to try out the F1.06 at Barcelona when testing resumes at the end of this month. The test has been in the pipeline for some time but was put back due to the 24 year-old German being injured.

Timo Glock.

Photo by GP2 Series Media Service.

"This test drive was planned long ago but had to be postponed due to the hand injury that Timo sustained in the GP2 race in Monza," said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen.

"We have kept a close eye on Timo Glock since his successful time in Formula BMW and are now keen to get a more accurate impression. Thanks to his successful performance in various race series, Timo was an obvious choice for the test drives."

Glock was previously test driver for Jordan in 2004 and was promoted to a race seat in Canada when Giorgio Pantano encountered sponsor difficulties. Glock then raced the final three events of the season after Pantano left, although his best result remained the seventh place he scored on his debt in Montreal.

In 2005 Glock raced in the American Champ Car series, where he finished eighth overall and was Rookie of the Year, then returned to Europe this year to compete in GP2. He scored two wins with iSport International and finished fourth overall in the standings.

BMW begins its winter programme on November 28th at Barcelona with racers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica scheduled for the first two days, and Glock joining Kubica on the 30th. In December testing moves to Jerez, where Glock will have another day and Sebastian Vettel, the team's official test/reserve driver, will also be on duty.

Next season's regulations state that teams may no longer run a third car in Friday practice sessions at race weekends but a nominated third driver may participate in one of the two cars allowed. Vettel made an impression as BMW's third driver since the Turkish GP this year and the team will give him more Friday time in 2007.

"We will take the opportunity to have the third driver in the car on Fridays," said Theissen. "From a team perspective it is more important to have the three drivers in the game and that means the third drivers should not just be at test venues but at race weekends."