» Mika Salo to join Stewards panel

Mika Salo has become the FIA’s latest sign-up to the roster of former racing drivers to join the rotation of Race Stewards at upcoming Grands Prix.

The Finn, 43, contested over 100 Grands Prix between 1994 and 2002 for the likes of Lotus, Tyrrell, Arrows, BAR, Ferrari, Sauber and Toyota, with a best finish of 2nd at the 1999 German GP for the Scuderia.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat reported the signing, which Salo confirmed at the inaugural FIA GT Championship round of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi.

"I was asked and I agreed to do a race this season,” Salo said.

Confirmation as to when Salo will appear on the Stewards group is not known.

Salo will join the likes of Alain Prost, Tom Kristensen, Johnny Herbert, Alexander Wurz, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Nigel Mansell on the list, as part of an excellent new initiative launched by FIA President Jean Todt. The move to have a well-known, experienced racing driver on the Panel should help bring about greater transparency and consistency in the Stewards’ decision-making over contentious on-track incidents.

“A driver sees the situation differently to someone who has never before driven a racing car or in F1," Salo said in support of the move.

[Image via Gumball3000]