DUTCH racing driver Giedo van der Garde has been signed by Leafield's Super Aguri F1 Team as the team's reserve and test driver for the 2007 season.

A member of the McLaren Young Driver Support Programme, the 21-year-old started his motorsport career at the age of nine when he began karting in the Mini Juniors Class and soon became two-times Dutch Champion.

From the age of 12, he began competing internationally with Team CRG Holland and for the past three seasons he has been competing in the F3 Euroseries with the ASM team.

Van der Garde said: "I am very happy that I can be involved with the Super Aguri F1 Team and get a good drive in Formula One. When I started karting I always said that I wanted to be in F1, so now I can put my efforts into the team and get to learn about the car. I am looking forward to driving in F1 for the first time."

Aguri Suzuki, team principal, said: "Formula One, as everyone knows, is not a walk over and in the beginning it will be hard for him. But with his talent I am sure he will overcome this and I hope he works hard and becomes successful in this category too."