Champion GP2 team ART Grand Prix has signed Briton Sam Bird for the 2010 season.
The French squad carried Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg to the 2009 title and is already running Bird in this winter's GP2 Asia Series. Bird will join Jules Bianchi, who won this year's Euro F3 title with ART.
"I'm obviously very pleased to be joining ART," said Bird. "Their success speaks for itself. Driving for ART is a dream for any single-seater driver and I would like to thank Frederic Vasseur in particular for handing me this opportunity."
Team boss Vasseur added: "I'm delighted that Sam is joining us, I've followed him closely for several years and always felt that circumstances had not always enabled him to express what I believe is a great talent.
"When we gave him the chance to prove himself in Abu Dhabi, he took the opportunity and impressed us. At the Paul Ricard test, he was consistently quick and remained a front runner with other teams in subsequent days.
"I think Jules and Sam make a very competitive and exciting lineup. They are both rookies but the top drivers have the ability to make a big impact immediately, as we have seen in the past. I am confident that Sam will have a very good season with us and I expect success for him in GP2 and beyond."