Rookie thrown into A1GP fray

The Dutch A1GP team are to change their driver line-up for the final three races of the 2006-07 season.

Rookie driver Renger van der Zende is to take part in qualifying and the sprint race at the next round in Mexico on March 24-25.

Regular driver Jeroen Bleekemolen will then drive the feature race at Mexico City.

Van der Zende will race the whole weekend at the Chinese round in Shanghai before Bleekemolen finishes the season at Brands Hatch.

Team boss Jan Lammers said: “Let one thing be very clear up front, we are not doing this because we are unhappy about the performance of Jeroen Bleekemolen.

“On the contrary, he is doing very well, both for us and for himself.”

Lammers explained Bleekemolen was happy to stand down in order for his team-mate to gain race experience.

“That is something that Jeroen understands very well and it is why he is co-operating and is giving Renger the opportunity to display himself under race conditions and the team the chance to introduce young talent,” he added.