Zaugg set for GP2 return with Trident

The 23-year-old South African last raced in GP2 in 2007, when he completed a full season with Arden. He finished sixth on his debut, but was unable to improve on that result during the season and finished the year 18th in the standings. Zaugg has since raced in A1GP and Formula Renault 3.5.

"The deal with Trident Racing represents a great opportunity to me, and also a positive signal to all my sponsors and supporters that enabled me to get this chance," Zaugg said.

"It won't be easy to be back in an open-wheel car after several months and a GP2 car after two years, but I'm running with no pressure, and I'll be calm and ready to give the maximum at Al Sakhir.

"I'll have to find the right feeling back, straight out of the box, but I'm not a rookie so I'm quite confident. I trust the team, the technical staff, and I think we really have a chance to give a positive spin to the 2010 season. Physically, I'm sure I'll perform at the top since I never stopped my training programme and I'm in good shape. I hope this weekend will convince who is supporting me to continue."

Trident managing director Luca Zerbini hopes Zaugg will stay on for the full 2010 campaign.

"We've been working on the Zaugg 'project' for quite some time, and I'm pleased that Trident Racing was entrusted by the staff working on Adrian's career," he said.

"It won't be easy for him to find the right moves and the right feeling in just 30 minutes of free practice in Bahrain, but I'm sure that Zaugg will prove his talent, the one that he expressed only partly during the recent years.

"I hope this will become the first step of a longer relationship, aimed to bring Adrian to enter the 2010 main series with Trident Racing."

Zaugg will replace Dani Clos alongside Plamen Kralev at Trident.