A host of current and former Formula One drivers have signed up for the inaugural i1 Super Series in India.

The new series - which begins on January 22 - will include current drivers Tonio Liuzzi, Karun Chandhok and Giancarlo Fisichella, as well as former names such as 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Mika Salo, Sakon Yamamoto, Alex Yoong and Neel Jani. Indycar's Pippa Mann has also signed up for the series.

The FIA has approved a calendar that includes 10 races over five weekends in Malaysia, Bahrain, Qatar and India, culminating in a final round at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The series consists of nine teams representing different Indian cities in a mirror of the successful IPL cricket league. The teams will race Radical Sportscars' SR3 roadsters with two cars per team, one of which must be driven by a driver of Indian origin.

The result will be an 18-car grid, with the drivers chosen by the teams from a pool of 27 drivers. Each team will compete for a $2 million prize. Following the driver announcements, the first test takes place today at the Yas Marina Circuit.