Sébastien Bourdais will test for Toro Rosso for two days in Jerez next week, hugely boosting his chances of finally securing a 2009 race drive with the team. The Frenchman has long been tipped with securing the seat, but an official announcement is still pending. However, speaking to Manipe F1, a Toro Rosso spokesperson said that an announcement is due "soon".

“Things are looking pretty good [for Bourdais],” the spokesperson told Manipe F1, “and there should be a decision [made] soon.”

Sébastien Buemi is already confirmed as one of the team's race drivers for 2009, and will also test for two days in Jerez next week. Bourdais now looks almost certain to secure the role as race driver, which all-but ends Japanese driver Takuma Sato's hopes of returning to the series in 2009. Sato had tested for the team three times at the end of 2008, and had looked in contention for the seat, but it's said that Bourdais's strong ties with Red Bull helped him over the line.