Baguette linked with Sauber reserve role

UPDATE (GMM) Bertrand Baguette has told a Belgian daily that his chances of securing a role with Sauber in 2010 stand at "96 per cent".

The 23-year-old Belgian's manager said earlier this week that Baguette, the new champion of the Renault World Series, could be the Hinwil based team's reserve driver.

He tested with Renault at Jerez recently, and then at late notice also ran during the same Spanish session with BMW-Sauber.

Sauber has already signed Kamui Kobayashi for 2010, and the Swiss newspaper Blick believes team boss Peter Sauber wants an experienced driver like Giancarlo Fisichella or Pedro de la Rosa to be the Japanese rookie's teammate.

To Het Niewsblad newspaper, however, Baguette refuses to rule out completely his chance of a full race seat.

"The decision will fall in the coming week," he said.

"The fact that Kobayashi has signed does not mean that I cannot as well," Baguette added.

"Half of the race cockpits (at Sauber) are still free. And if that should not come out, then I will almost certainly be the third driver," he said.

12/15/09 (GMM) Bertrand Baguette is tipped to secure a role with the Sauber team in 2010.

His Italian manager Manfredi Ravetto is believed to have said in a Belgian press report that the new World Series by Renault champion could be the Hinwil based team's third driver.

Baguette, 23, recently tested with the Renault team at Jerez, and then at late notice also ran during the same Spanish session with BMW-Sauber.