Premat to stay with ART

Alexandre Premat has targeted the GP2 championship after agreeing to stay on with the ART team for next season.

The Frenchman, part of his country’s dominant A1 Grand Prix team, played second fiddle to title-winner Nico Rosberg at ART last season but expects a more sustained challenge in 2006.

He said: “After a difficult start to the 2005 season, I progressed well throughout the championship to end up fighting regularly with the leaders.

“My objective will therefore be very simple in 2006 – to win the championship.”

ART team manager Nicolas Todt, son of Ferrari boss Jean, has yet to name his second driver but rising English star Lewis Hamilton is a leading contender.

The McLaren-backed driver will compete in GP2 this year after winning the Formula Three Euroseries last season and has already tested for ART.