Nico Rosberg & Kazuki Nakajima Williams F1 Drivers 2008
Kazuki Nakajima will make his full-time Formula 1 race debut in 2008 after being handed the second seat at Williams for next season.
The 22-year-old Japanese driver has been promoted from his role as the Grove squad’s official test driver to a race seat he first filled impressively at the 2007 season-finale in Brazil following the retirement of Alex Wurz.
The 22-year-old will partner Nico Rosberg at the Grove-based squad in 2008 after being promoted from his test and reserve driver role at the team which he started in January. He has dovetailed his F1 testing duties this year with an impressive rookie year in the sport’s GP2 feeder series – winning the category’s rookie of the year title after scoring six podium finishes. However while most of the grid’s current GP2 graduates have entered F1 after winning or battling for the championship, Nakajima comes in after finishing fifth in the series at the first attempt.
“I am delighted to confirm that Nico will be racing for the team for his third consecutive year after demonstrating impressive and widely applauded form in 2007,” said team owner Sir Frank Williams.