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BMW surprises, Klien and Asmer join as Test Driver
By BMW Sauber F1 Team February 2 2008
The BMW Sauber F1 Team will be launching into the 2008 season with a quartet of drivers. Austrian Christian Klien has been signed up as a test and reserve driver while Marko Asmer of Estonia comes on board as a second junior test driver. .

“We wanted a third driver with Formula One racing experience,” explains BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, “as well as an up-and-coming young driver for us to train up to Formula One level. With Christian we have signed on 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 4th 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.”

Christian Klien (born 7th February 1983 in Hohenems, Austria) switched to Formula BMW in 1999 following a career in karting. “That’s where I learnt the basics of formula racing,” he recalls, “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 One.” Klien won the German Formula Renault in 2002 and was runner-up in the 2003 Formula 3 Euro Series. In 2004 he entered Formula One with the Jaguar Racing team. 2005 and 2006 saw him competing in F1 for Red Bull Racing. In 2007 he was a test driver for Honda. His best Formula One results so far have been fourth on the grid and a fifth-placed race finish.

Marko Asmer (born 30th July 1984 in Tallinn, Estonia) says: “I always hoped for an opportunity to get into Formula One. 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.” Asmer was Estonian, Baltic, Finnish and Scandinavian kart champion, dominated the World Kart Championship, and was honoured in 2001 as the world’s most talented kart driver. Formula Ford proved to be the most affordable way of gaining entry into single-seater racing.

 In 2003, Asmer came runner-up in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. In the same year he was invited to get behind the wheel of a Formula One racer for the first time to take a test for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. From 2004 on he competed in Formula 3. 2007 saw him commuting between the All Japan F3 Series and the British Championship, which he won with a commanding 11 wins and two further podium places.

Christian Klien. Date/place of birth: 7th February 1983/Hohenems (Austria)

Nationality: Austrian

Residence: Diepoldsau (Switzerland)

Website: www.christian-klien.com

Marital status: Single

Height: 1.69 m

Weight: 68 kg Hobbies: Skiing, mountain biking, inline skating, mountain climbing

Favourite food: Pasta, Italian dishes

Favourite drink: Red Bull, apple juice spritzer

Favourite circuit: Spa

First race: 1999, Formula BMW ADAC Junior Cup, Sachsenring (DE)

First win: 1999, Formula BMW ADAC Junior Cup, Sachsenring (DE)

Career highlights. 1996 to 1998 Kart racing 1999 4th place Formula BMW ADAC Junior Cup 2000 10th place Formula BMW ADAC Championship 2001 3rd place Formula BMW ADAC Championship 2002 Winner German Formula Renault; 5th place Formula Renault Eurocup 2003 2nd place Formula 3 Euro Series; winner Formula 3 Masters Zandvoort 2004 16th place FIA Formula One World Championship, Jaguar Racing 2005 15th place FIA Formula One World Championship, Red Bull Racing 2006 18th place FIA Formula One World Championship, Red Bull Racing 2007 Test driver FIA Formula One World Championship, Honda Racing F1 Team.

Marko Asmer. Date/place of birth: 30th July 1984/Tallinn (Estonia)

Nationality: Estonian

Residence: Tallinn

Website: www.markoasmer.com

Marital status: Single

Height: 1.72 m

Weight: 65 kg

Hobbies: Snowmobiling, jet skiing, mountain biking

Favourite food: Pasta

Favourite drink: Water Favourite circuit: Macau

First car race: March 2003, Formula Ford, Donington

First win: March 2003, Formula Ford, Donington

Career highlights. 1995 Started kart racing 1999 Winner Estonian, Baltic, Finnish and Scandinavian Kart Championship 2001 Winner World Kart Championship in Mariembourg (Belgium), Formula Super A 2002 Winner Constructors’ Cup with Tony Kart, Formula Super A 2003 British Formula Ford, five wins; 2nd place Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch; Formula One test (BMW WilliamsF1 Team) 2004 British Formula 3 Championship 2005 British Formula 3 Championship, six podium places 2006 7th place All Japan F3 Series, one win; pole position F3 World Final in Macau. 2007 Winner British Formula 3 Championship, 11 wins, two further podium places.

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