Spyker Signs Adrian Sutil for 2007
In what may be the F1 team’s best move to date Spyker has cast aside Tiago Monteiro and signed reigning Japanese Formula Three champion Adrian Sutil as second driver to teammate Christijan Albers.
Sutil was impressive in a number of outings as a Man Friday during the 2006 season.
Speaking about the news, Sutil said: “I really enjoyed being in the F1 paddock this year and to be honest I thought I would be a test driver in 2007.”
This is not the first Sutil, Colin Kolles (Spyker Team principal) relationship. He arrived on the F3 scene in 2004 behind the wheel of a Team Kolles supplied ride in 2004 scoring a pole position in only his third start.
Sutil won the Japanese F3 crown for TOM’S this year, and was Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at ASM in the Formula Three Euro-series in 2005, finishing second in the championship. He finished third in the prestigious F3 season ending Macau Grand Prix this year.
F1, FIA, Formula One, Sports, Team Spyker. Adrian Sutil, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
Great news, I realise small teams often have to look at a drivers wallet, but here is a example of real talent being selected, (I suppose he must have some sponsorship).
Personally, I’m sorry that Monteiro is now left without a drive. The guy seemed like a half decent driver, and enough charisma to charm just about anyone in the paddock. But I guess Formula One is fickle, and Sutil is a good chum of team boss Kolles.
Ollie it’s proven once again prior relationships are important and at times more important than being a nice guy.
Not having the privledge of having access to GP2 and only seeing Sutil drive for the German A1GP team my knowledge is limited.
But he did impress my during his time in A1GP and he did have three good outings as a F1 test driver.