Caterham sign Petrov for 2012 F1 season

London, Feb 17 (IANS) Formula One team Caterham announced Friday it has signed Russian driver Vitaly Petrov, replacing Italian Jarno Trulli, for the 2012 season.

Petrov drove for Renault last year. However, he was released at the end of the season.

Trulli's ouster from Caterham, which was called Team Lotus last year, means that there would be no Italian in the starting grid of an F1 race, for the first time since 1969.

"The passion and spirit (team owner) of Tony Fernandes and the whole team have to keep moving forwards is infectious. I am honoured to be able to join them and play my part in helping the team mount a serious challenge to the teams ahead in 2012 and for many seasons to come," Petrov was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

"I have been training hard all winter and am ready to get back into the cockpit and go to work."

Petrov, who began his F1 career with Renault in 2010 and finished 10th in the 2011 championship, after securing a podium finish in Australia, praised the new Caterham car.

"From what I have seen already, our new car is another good step forward from 2011, and now I cannot wait to see how it feels when we get to Barcelona (for the second test next week)."

Petrov attended a seat fitting at their UK factory in Hingham Friday morning and will make his debut at next week's second pre-season test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, alongside new team mate Heikki Kovalainen of Finland.