Motor racing-BMW to test young drivers despite F1 pullout

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - BMW will test American teenager Alexander Rossi and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez in southern Spain next week despite pulling out of Formula One, the German carmaker said on Tuesday.

"Depriving these junior drivers of the test we had promised them was not an option for us, even after the withdrawal of BMW from Formula One," said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen in a statement.

The two drivers, both 18, earned their tests after strong performances in the Formula BMW series last year.

Rossi will be the second young American attending the test, with 21-year-old fellow Californian John 'JR' Hildebrand trying out for Mercedes-powered Force India.

The test sessions in Jerez from Dec. 1-3 are open only to young drivers who have taken part previously in no more than two Formula One events. All other testing is banned until the New Year.

BMW announced in July they were pulling out of Formula One after the season that ended this month. Their Swiss-based Sauber team have announced new owners but have yet to secure a place on the starting grid.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris

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