Van der Garde joins ASM line-up

Van der Garde, a podium finisher with Team Rosberg last season, will join Paul di Resta, Sebastian Vettel and Kamui Kobayashi in the reigning champion's squad.

The 20-year old Dutch driver has also joined the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme on an on-going basis as part of the deal. ASM use Mercedes engines.

Previous members of the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support include Nick Heidfeld and Ricardo Zonta. Van der Garde joins reigning F3 Euroseries champion Lewis Hamilton on the their books.

"We are pleased to welcome Giedo to the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme," said McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh. "Giedo is a promising young driver, and we are looking forward to working with him to maximise this potential.

"We feel that by placing Giedo with the ASM team for 2006, he has the best opportunity to develop and demonstrate his talents."

ASM team principal Frederic Vasseur said the team's aim this season is to retain their driver and manufacturer titles and that Van der Garde would be very much be part of that effort.

"I'm delighted that Giedo, who has strong experience in the F3 Euroseries, has joined our team," said Vasseur. "I'm proud to have the confidence from Giedo, his partners, McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.

"Our target will be to retain both the driver and constructor titles and for sure Giedo will be an excellent member of ASM."