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French former Formula 1 racer Stephane Sarrazin will drive for the factory Subaru team in at least half the 2005 World Rally Championship rounds – starting his campaign with the Monte Carlo Rally in January.

Sarrazin had a mercurial first season in rallying in 2004, after switching from circuit racing when he won a scholarship drive backed by Subaru France and the French Federation, the FFSA. The 29-year-old won the French Championship and made three massively impressive WRC appearances, finishing ninth in Germany, sixth on Corsica and a brilliant fourth in Catalunya.

Subaru has now handed Sarrazin, who contested one Grand Prix (Brazil in 1999) with Minardi and spent several years as a F1 test driver with Prost and Toyota, a one-year contract. And it will give him the chance to tackle new surfaces – all the 11 rallies he has contested to date have been on asphalt.

Subaru team principal David Lapworth commented: “We've been very impressed by what Sarrazin has done this year. It's remarkable that someone who has done 11 rallies and only three at WRC level can run at the pace he has. His approach is very professional, he's serious about everything he does and we're expecting to see the same sort of commitment when we look to broaden his experience onto other surfaces and other WRC rallies.

“Initially we've signed Stephane for one year but the intention of our development programme is to find a future world champion. We've selected him because we think he's got what it takes. Signing Stephane is another crucial step in our driver strategy for 2005 and the door remains open for other fresh talent to join him in the team.”

Sarrazin said: “It's really a very big chance for me, after one year in rally it's a great opportunity. This year I pushed a lot to improve myself, to improve my drivability and everything, and now it's just incredible to be in the official team. I will push the same as this year to improve, I will give the maximum I can, they give me a big chance, and because this team is the top team in the World Championship it's exceptional.”

Sarrazin will have a change of co-drivers in his new job with Jacques-Julien Ranucci - who sat alongside Brice Tirabassi during his title-winning 2003 JWRC season - replacing Patrick Pivato.