BAR test chance for young duo

Irishman Adam Carroll and England's James Rossiter will get their chance to impress BAR at a test this week.

The pair of Formula Three Championship stars, 22 and 21 respectively, join up with 2003 champion Alan van der Merwe at Jerez in Spain to prove they deserve a future in Formula One.

The three prevailed from a private test featuring several up-and-coming drivers and have been recruited to BAR’s first official driver development scheme.

Jock Clear, who is co-ordinating the scheme for BAR, said: “We have a wealth of talent at BAR already, with race drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, plus third driver Anthony Davidson and test driver Enrique Bernoldi.

“It is important to understand that this initiative is not about finding an immediate understudy to Jenson or Takuma.

“It is about developing the talent of the future on a structured two-year programme which will hopefully prepare them for the unique challenge of Formula One.

“The jump from the junior formulae is huge. However by guiding and supporting these drivers we hope the long-term benefit will see them make the grade with BAR in the future.”

Carroll, from the North, and Rossiter will each get half a day’s testing alongside regular drivers Sato and Bernoldi.