Force India Have Big Names Testing For Them

Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella are among seven drivers competing for a race seat with Force India.

They are looking for a driver to races next to German Adrian Sutil, who has been ratined for 2008.

But F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has suggested time was up in the sport for the two men.

Both Schumacher and Fisichella will have a full day testing alongside fellow hopefuls Christian Klien, Viantonio Liuzzi, Franck Montagny, Giedo van der Garde and Roldan Rodriguez.

The younger brother of seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher left Toyota in October after three years with the team.

Before that he enjoyed six Grand Prix wins in a 179-race career with Williams, but has so far attracted little interest in his services for 2008.

Testing for the Ferrari-powered Force India will bring Schumacher full circle having started his career at Jordan, the team renamed Midland and then Spyker, before it was bought by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya and Dutch entrepreneur Michiel Mol.

Fisichella's involvement, meanwhile, indicates that he will not figure in Renault's plans for next year, after three seasons with the team.

Klien and Liuzzi have both been invited to test in Jerez after impressing earlier this month at a previous test in Barcelona.

Montagny was a Toyota test driver last season and started seven races for Super Aguri in 2006, before which he spent three years as a Renault reserve. Dutchman van der Garde and Spaniard Rodriguez have no F1 experience.