“I'm delighted to give Tonio the opportunity to get back into a race seat, which I know he has been itching to do for the past two years. Force India is now in a very competitive position and we need a driver who can continue this momentum. This will be the chance for Tonio to demonstrate to both the team and the field that he has the commitment, speed and professionalism to perform and I am sure he will seize this opportunity,” said team boss Vijay Mallya in a statement.
Liuzzi will therefore debut in the 2009 Formula One championship in his very home grand prix, in Italy, after almost 2 years of absence from the racing scene.
“I can't wait to get back into the car in race trim, particularly at my home Grand Prix in Monza. I really appreciate the opportunity Vijay has given me, particularly now Force India has a great car that's performing very well,” said Liuzzi.
“I am confident I can carry on our progress. I'm very motivated, I'm in good shape and hungry to get some more points on the board. Although it's unfortunate that this came about as an direct result of Felipe's accident, this is my opportunity to show people what I can do and I'm really looking forward to it,” added the Force India driver.
The last time Liuzzi contested in a Formula One race was in the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix. The Italian driver has started 39 races in the championship so far, highlighting a 6th place for Toro Rosso in the 2007 Chinese GP.
Google News