Last year's runner-up confident it has found the perfect blend on the testing front.
BMW has announced the men who will make up its two-pronged test team during the forthcoming Formula 1 campaign, with the expected arrival of reigning British F3 Champion Marko Asmer accompanied perhaps more surprisingly by the signing of former grand prix ace Christian Klien.
The appointments continue the Munich and Hinwil-based outfit's 2007 policy of employing two testers, and follow the departure of Timo Glock to a race seat at Toyota and Sebastian Vettel to a similar role at Scuderia Toro Rosso. Klien will assume the position of reserve pilot should one of the squad's regular race drivers be unable to compete.
"We wanted a third driver with Formula 1 racing experience," explained BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, "as well as an up-and-coming young driver for us to train up to Formula 1 level.
"With Christian we have signed a driver who is familiar with the format of a grand prix weekend and can step into the breach right away should one of our team drivers have to back out.
"Marko has driven our car four times since 4 December and has made steady progress. He has worked in a concentrated, focused and calm fashion. The feedback from the engineers bears positive testimony to him, and the chemistry between him and the team is right as well."
Klien has made 46 starts in the top flight, for Jaguar and Red Bull Racing between 2004 and 2006, with a highest qualifying position of fourth and best result of fifth place. Last year the Austrian fulfilled the role of test-driver for Honda - a position he left, somewhat ironically, in order to pursue a racing return with Spyker/Force India, for whom he tried out on a number of occasions over the second half of the campaign.
He is known to BMW having competed in Formula BMW ADAC Junior back in 1999, finishing fourth in the title chase at the end of his maiden season of car racing.
"That's where I learnt the basics of formula racing," the 24-year-old recalled, "and so joining the BMW Sauber F1 Team is a bit of a homecoming for me. I'm really pleased that I will be part of the team in 2008 and continue to be involved in Formula 1."
Former multiple karting champion Asmer, for his part, first got a taste of F1 power four years ago when he was invited to test for Williams BMW - in the process becoming the first Estonian ever to do so. He added to his repertoire by taking part in four tests with BMW over the 2007/08 winter off-season.
"I always hoped for an opportunity to get into Formula 1," the 23-year-old admitted. "Naturally I did everything I could to avoid any mistakes and to do a good job.
"I learnt a lot while driving in the tests at Jerez and Valencia, but also as a spectator and observer. I was given a very friendly welcome and got on just fine. I feel good in the BMW Sauber F1 Team and I'm very grateful to be a part of it now."
