(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-11 11:49

MUMBAI - Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was confirmed as Force India Formula One team's second driver for the 2008 season on Thursday.

Fisichella, who drove for Renault last season, will team up with German driver Adrian Sutil, who was a rookie last year with the Spyker team that Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya bought into and renamed.

"He is somebody who has raced with the best in the business," Mallya told a news conference after unveiling the drivers.

Fisichella, who turns 35 on Monday, has 194 races under his belt and is expected to bring some much needed experience as well as technical feedback to the Ferrari-powered team in what is likely to be his swan song at the highest level of the sport.

Fisichella has won three F1 races in his career and his highest championship placing was fourth in 2006. He finished eighth last season.

"The experience and ability to assist the engineering team was a key requirement," Mallya said.

The team also named Fisichella's compatriot Vitantonio Liuzzi as the test and reserve driver. Liuzzi raced for Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso in 2007 but has been replaced there by France's four-times ChampCar champion Sebastien Bourdais.

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Fisichella said he was confident of making a good start.

"Contrary to what people may think, this was not my only opportunity, it was the best one," he said. "I feel motivated and ready to help Force India get points on a regular basis.

"With new owners and a competitive budget, I really think we can shake things up next year," said the Italian, who won races with Jordan, Force India's now-defunct predecessors, in 2003 and two more with Renault in 2005 and 2006.

The confirmation of the Force India line-up means there will be no Schumacher on the grid this year, with Ralf, who tested for Force India in Spain in December, following older brother Michael out after the seven-times champion retired in 2006.

With Super Aguri expected to confirm last year's pairing of Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, there is nowhere to go for the German winner of six grands prix who left Toyota at the end of the season.

Fisichella had impressed in a test in Spain last month after having been without a drive since his contract with former champions Renault expired at the end of last year.

"At the test in Jerez I was very impressed with the team's professionalism and commitment to move forward," he said. "I hope my experience will help them achieve these goals."