Klien permitted to be third driver
 |  Klein (left) has benefitted from a changing of third driver rules |
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LONDON, England -- Christian Klien will drive for Red Bull as a third driver in Friday practice at grand prix weekends after Formula One teams agreed to change the rules.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said teams had voted to delete a rule that previously barred drivers who had competed in more than six races over the previous two seasons.
"As a result, any driver with a Formula One super licence may now run as a third driver on Friday," it said in a statement.
The rule was originally intended to give young and inexperienced drivers a chance to take part in the Formula One weekend but Klien, just 22, was barred because he raced for Jaguar all last year.
The Austrian was a regular race driver for Red Bull in the first three grands prix of this year but has been moved aside for the next three to give promising Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi a chance.
"I am delighted that all of the teams supported our request to the FIA in order to change the regulations regarding the third driver," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"It would have been hugely frustrating for Christian to be unable to drive a third car in Imola due to the fact that, at 22, he has driven more than six grands prix."
The next race is the San Marino Grand Prix on April 24.
The rule has forced several other young drivers to look elsewhere after losing drives in recents seasons, notably Briton Justin Wilson who moved to CART after Jaguar were unable to use him on Fridays.
