The Marussia Virgin Racing Formula One team has announced that it is supporting the new karting category Formula KGP with effect from this season.

Formula KGP is a new seven round National Karting Championship, which joins the Super 1 Series. Marussia Virgin Racing will use the collaboration as the foundation of its young driver programme, the first stepping stone for exceptional young karters to progress all the way through to Formula One.

Karting is the first step to gauging the potential of a future World Champion and Marussia Virgin Racing will be keeping a close eye on the stars of the future. At the end of the season, the top three drivers and one 'wild card' - a driver who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the new Formula KGP Championship irrespective of points placings - will win a Formula Renault test.

To underline its support for the category, the Marussia Virgin Racing logo will also appear on the karts, drivers' suits and helmets as well as being integral to the Championship identity.

The launch will take place on Saturday 26 February at the PF International Kart track in Lincolnshire. A show kart, complete with the Marussia Virgin Racing colours and team logo, will be presented and the Formula One team's driver Jerome D'Ambrosio will conduct some demonstration laps.

"Karting is the beginning of a long but ultimately very rewarding journey," said John Booth. "I believe very strongly in nurturing the talent of tomorrow and providing opportunities for drivers to move through the ranks. It's not an easy progression, so if the talent is there, it should be supported. As a team, we have to think today about the drivers of tomorrow and that means ensuring there is a rich pool of talent to draw from further down the line."

"Formula KGP is delighted to form this collaboration with Marussia Virgin Racing," added Andy Cox, Managing Director, Formula KGP. "Karting is a crucial step in the development of a driver; perhaps in many ways it could be the very discipline that defines a driver for the future. With this collaboration, karting connects directly with a Formula One team and an entire grid can race under the gentle eye of Marussia Virgin Racing, with such an innovative approach, a future talent could be discovered. With a test drive in Formula Renault at the end of the season, I can't think of a better situation for a driver to showcase their talent to a Formula One team."