Van der Drift gets NZ nod for Taupo

Van der Drift has alternated rounds so far this season with fellow rookie Earl Bamber and will make his second race appearance following his seventh place finish on his debut at Chengdu in November.

The 22-year-old will participate in both the rookie and the race sessions in New Zealand with neither Bamber nor the team's other driver, Johnny Reid, nominated for the event.

"Taupo is an important race for the team and seeing as I haven't done much racing in New Zealand, it's so fantastic to have the opportunity to drive Black Beauty there," said van der Drift.

"I haven't driven on the circuit in its current form, but I know it and have walked it when I was helping Earl Bamber in 2006. I'll treat Taupo like any other race, I don't feel too much pressure and won't let that get in the way of my performance."

Despite carrying New Zealand to second place in A1GP last season, Reid is still yet to race the new Powered by Ferrari car.

A team statement explained: "While there are no doubts as to Reid's race winning ability, the tight format of an A1GP weekend provides a limited number of practice laps. The restricted nature of practice at Taupo would not allow Reid a reasonable number of laps to properly familiarise himself with the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car."