South African racing driver Tschops Sipuka has been invited to test in Britain for the Formula Palmer Audi single-seater series, a formula that has proved to be a breeder for F1 Grand Prix and US Champ Car drivers.
The invitation came from series organiser Jonathan Palmer, a veteran of 87 F1 GP's, and South African businessman Chris Hyman, who met Sipuka at the Brands Hatch round of the 2005/6 A1 series and is co-sponsoring the drive with finance company WesBank.
Sipuka said: "If my times at Snetterton are competitive it could help further my international career.
"It's a dream come true - without the support of Palmer, Hyman and WesBank it would have been very difficult for me to make an international impression."
Sipuka will test in a single-seat Van Diemen powered by a turbocharged, 1.8-litre, 225kW Audi engine. Formula Palmer Audi has earned a formidable reputation over the past eight seasons as one of the best training grounds for young drivers.
All the cars are owned and operated by the Formula Palmer Audi team and are identically prepared; all the driver has to do is turn up on race day with his helmet and overalls, ready to race.
Sipuka started his racing career in 1989 when he won his first race at Cape Town's Killarney circuit. He has competed internationally in the 25-Hour Fun Cup race at Spa-Franchorchamps in Belgium and at Sepang in Malaysia, and in 1999 was the only driver of colour nominated to drive a German-built Mercedes-Benz truck in the South African truck racing series.
He was also the first driver of colour to receive provincial colours and to win a National race. He became the first black South African champion when he won the 2002 VW Cup and was that year's South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Motorsport Sportsman of the Year.
He was also awarded Protea colours in 2002 and the following year became the first driver to win the Polo Cup series back to back.
Sipuka is currently campaigning a works Nissan 350Z in Class A of the South African Production Car Series.