Every team on the 2010 grid have secured the services of at least one driver after USF1 have today confirmed the strong rumour that Argentinean Jose Maria Lopez will drive for the Charlotte-based team in 2010.

US F1 Team Executive Vice President Peter Windsor said:

“Securing ‘Pechito’ Lopez for our debut season has been a goal of ours for a long time. We’ve been following his career since he dominated the Renault V6 Championship in 2003 and we’re thrilled to have him on board as we return America to Formula One. Lopez is a consummate professional and born leader. The most revealing thing about his character was how he handled the disappointment of not racing for Renault after three years of testing with them in F1. Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for himself, he returned to Argentina and totally dominated the local scene, winning 38 races and three championships. He became a major star as a result and, in turn, the Argentine nation – a country where F1 is second only to soccer – has got behind him.”

The 26-year-old Lopez, who has over 6000km of test experience, Italian Formula Renault and Formula Renault V6 Eurocup championships under his belt said:

“This is a truly memorable day for me, my family and the people of Argentina. I have been working towards this day for much of my life and I can’t thank Peter and Ken [Anderson] enough for this opportunity. Of course a new F1 team faces many challenges but our goal is to improve with each race and build a foundation that will eventually see this team competing for wins and championships.”