Sep.9 (GMM) The career prospects of two hopeful drivers have taken a step back towards formula one.

Romain Grosjean's F1 aspirations have been dwindling since he lost his Renault race seat last year, and former joint reserve driver Brendon Hartley recently lost the support of Red Bull's junior programme.

But New Zealander Hartley, 20, has been signed with the help of three new sponsors by the Coloni team for the last two rounds of the GP2 series, beginning this weekend at Monza.

"We face a really big task at Monza as Brendon has never driven a GP2 car," admitted Paulo Coloni, "but he has great experience in high-powered cars."

And Swiss-born Frenchman Grosjean has been signed up by Gravity Sport, the management arm of Renault team owner Gerard Lopez's Genii organisation.

Like Hartley, he will be on the GP2 grid this weekend, in the DAMS car normally occupied by injured Renault F1 reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung.

"Such a partner will enable me to concentrate on my return to top-level single-seater racing, and I hope to attain my main aim, which is still formula one," said the 24-year-old.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version