INDIANAPOLIS -- BMW will launch a new junior race series in the United States next year to help bring American talent into Formula One, motorsport director Mario Theissen said on Friday.

The last U.S. Formula One driver was Michael Andretti, with McLaren, in 1993. Andretti's father Mario was the country's last F1 champion 25 years ago.

"To us it would be very positive to have an American driver," Theissen, whose company are engine partners to Formula One leaders Williams, told a news conference at the U.S. Grand Prix.

"Of course he needs to be competitive and it's a long way to get competitive. And it's maybe more difficult here in the States to develop himself into a competitive Formula One driver than in Europe.

"That's why we are about to set up a new race series here in the United States, Formula BMW," he added.

The series is already established in Germany and Asia and will also be started up in Britain next year, aiming at drivers aged between 15 and 17 graduating from karting to single seater car racing.

"We are not only providing the car and the series, we are also providing an educational programme to become a racing driver to learn everything it takes to develop in the world of motorsport," said Theissen.

"I think this is the first step to enable drivers to become a Formula One driver."