Yamamoto lands with Renault's test program

Renault announced Monday that former Super Aguri and Spyker driver Sakon Yamamoto has joined the former Formula One world champions as test development driver.

Yamamoto, 25, has made 14 grand prix starts. His best finish was 12th in last year's Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji in a Spyker-Ferrari.

"We are delighted to welcome Sakon to the team for 2008," team principal Flavio Briatore said. "We plan a particularly aggressive development program for the coming year and his F1 experience will be useful to us in this context."

Briatore added that Yamamoto will boost the team's visibility in important markets.

"I am very excited to join the ING Renault F1 Team for the 2008 season," Yamamoto said. "It is a great honor for me to be associated with a team that has won world championships. I will learn a fantastic amount, and I look forward to contributing in every way the team asks of me."