Feb.11 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde is hoping to secure a new contract to test with the Force India team in 2008.

The Dutch 22-year-old was forced to the sidelines last year, after a contractual dispute between Super Aguri and Force India's predecessor Spyker meant he was unable to obtain an FIA superlicense.

But with that obstacle seemingly now behind him, van der Garde has declared that he is currently in talks with Silverstone based Force India about a new role in 2008.

"At the moment we're negotiating with the team to get a contract as the team's test driver," said van der Garde, who will again race in the World Series by Renault this year.

"Formula one is my main goal as a race driver so if I can continue to test (there) I can get more experience," he wrote on his website.

Force India has already signed Vitantonio Liuzzi to be its main test and reserve driver in 2008.