Simona de Silvestro gets Sauber Formula 1 role

The 25-year-old has competed in IndyCar for the past four years, finishing 13th in the standings with KV Racing Technology in 2013.

De Silvestro was rookie of the year in 2010 and became the first woman to finish on the podium on a street circuit in IndyCar in Houston last season.

The Swiss driver will join Sauber's preparation programme with the goal of earning a Superlicence and to "prepare for a race seat for 2015," according to the team.

Her programme will include track and simulator testing.

"This is a major step towards me achieving a life-long dream and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to take this step with such a great team," de Silvestro said.

"Sauber is a team with a legacy and the only Swiss team in Formula 1, which I think makes this even more exciting.

"I can't thank Monisha Kaltenborn and Peter Sauber enough for their support and belief in my abilities and for giving me this chance.

"I'm thrilled to have this extremely unique platform on which to prepare myself to take on the challenge."

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn added: "After four years in IndyCar, Simona's ambition is to enter Formula 1 in 2015.

"We regard her as a very talented race driver, and we, therefore, decided to take her on board as an 'affiliated driver' and support her on her way to the pinnacle of motorsport."