German driver Adrian Sutil will drive for Spyker in 2007 as teammate to Christijan Albers, after beating 2006 incumbent Tiago Monteiro to the seat.

Speaking about the news, Sutil said: “I really enjoyed being in the F1 paddock this year and to be honest I thought I would be a test driver in 2007. Colin Kolles and (team owner) Michiel Mol have been fantastically patient and supportive while this package became reality. I look forward to repaying their faith in me but right now I’m just going to enjoy the best Christmas present ever.”

The confirmation of Sutil at Spyker ends Monteiro’s hopes of retaining a place on the F1 grid in 2007.

Champ Car teams have taken delivery of their new-for-2007 Panoz DP01 cars. More cars will be constructed over the winter period, with a target of 35 chassis before the start of the season.

Meanwhile, former F1 team boss Paul Stoddart, who recently bought the CTE-HVM team (to be renamed Minardi Team USA), is remaining coy on the subject of who will drive for the team in 2007. Katherine Legge and Jos Verstappen have both been linked to the team. Legge, who drove for PKV in 2006, had a Minardi F1 test in 2005.

“There is a chance that Katherine, together with several other drivers, could be a part of our line-up,” (Stoddart) conceded, “I think the only hint I’ve given on that so far is to say that there’s somebody who has driven a Minardi likely in the line-up at some point next year.

CTE-HVM 2006 drivers Nelson Philippe and Dan Clarke are looking increasingly unlikely to be retained.