Fittipaldi replaces Piquet at Brazil

The former Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR driver is the nephew of team principal Emerson Fittipaldi and has been drafted in to replace Piquet for the final four rounds of the inaugural season.

Emerson believes that securing the services of his nephew will give the team a strong advantage in the tracks Christian knows from his Champ Car days - Monterrey, Mexico and Laguna Seca, California.

"He understands that in Indonesia he has to work with the team and learn about the car and I am sure he will then be a very strong contender in Mexico, Laguna Seca and China," Emerson said.

"I am looking forward to the next few races to see if we can get much closer to France and try to be runner-up in the championship. He has a great amount of experience, and I am sure he can benefit the team a lot."

Emerson said the team have been preparing for when Piquet would want to commit to his GP2 season preparations, but has vowed that he will be back in the Brazilian car for A1 GP's second season.

"I am extremely pleased with the way that Nelsinho performed the whole time, I understand his commitment to GP2 and I am looking forward to him getting back in the cockpit for A1 next season," Emerson added. "We have won two races, and have always been very strong and I am very pleased with the engineers and the team.

"We have a very strong team of people and we will be a good position for the remainder of the season. This will be the first time I have worked directly with Christian. He has won everything he has competed in and is very motivated."

Christian currently races in the American Grand-Am series and the Brazilian Stock Car championship, and will continue to race in those this season. The 35-year old says he has been following the team's progress so far.

"I am happy to be representing the Brazilian Team and taking over where Nelsinho left off," Christian said. "I have been following the races and I believe that the team is very competitive.

"I'm especially looking forward to racing again in Monterrey and Laguna Seca, two tracks that I know very well."