Montagny fills third Aguri seat.

Former Renault F1 reserve driver Franck Montagny has agreed to temporarily fulfil a similar role at grand prix newcomer Super Aguri, signing a deal to play back-up to Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide at the first two races of the season.

The Frenchman is understood to be looking towards a career in America, following a promising Champ Car test with PKV Racing, but remains a free agent when the Formula One season starts in Bahrain next month. With the Champ Car season not due to start until Long Beach in April, the Malaysian Grand Prix is also viable for Montagny, who confirms rumours about his F1 involvement by inking the short-term deal with SAF1.

Although the team has yet to run a third car - Sato and Ide shared the first SA05 in Spain last week and a planned outing at Silverstone was cut short by snow on Tuesday - Montagny will also benefit the newcomers by bringing several years of knowledge and experience from his time at Renault. Super Aguri F1 is entitled to run a third car in Friday practice at each grand prix, having not finished in the top four in the 2005 constructors' championship.