Rocha to lead Brazil in opening races

Rocha will be the main driver in Zandvoort, Brno and Beijing for the team which finished A1 GP's maiden season in sixth place, despite winning both races in the first round at Brands Hatch. Rocha competed for the team last year alongside more seasoned competitors such as Nelson Piquet Jr and Christian Fittipaldi.

Rocha is glad to have the opportunity, having built on his A1 GP performances with a Euro 3000 win this year: "I am so happy that I have been given this opportunity. Now I have got to do a good job and get the team off to a good start.

"This is everything I have dreamed of since last year and now it's coming true so I couldn't be happier. I hope I can make everyone in Brasil proud of the team."

Joining Rocha as reserve driver at the three opening rounds will be three different drivers. In the Netherlands it will be Ruben Carrapatoso, in the Czech Republic it will be Alexandre 'Xandi' Negrao and in China it will be Raphael Matos.

Despite a major change in driver line-up, Emerson Fittipaldi is looking forward to the new season: "I'm very excited at the prospect of this second season with A1 Team Brasil.

"I am looking forward to bringing together the experience we gained during the inaugural season with an incredible new crop of talented Brazilian drivers, and I think we have an excellent chance to battle for the title. The idea of giving new drivers an opportunity to compete for our country is fantastic, and it is making me very happy to be involved in A1GP."

An evaluation process will take place during the opening races, which will see the team announce its drivers for the remainder of the season afterwards. Other young drivers will be among those under consideration.