Paffett plays the Prodrive card to the fullest

Gary Paffett said that he was still hopeful that Prodrive’s plans in F1 would materialize. And why not for the 2009 season, because in 2007 the team was considered a serious contender for a race spot for 2008. The McLaren test driver had hoped to become a racing driver in F1 with Prodrive, but his […]

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Gary Paffett said that he was still hopeful that Prodrive’s plans in F1 would materialize. And why not for the 2009 season, because in 2007 the team was considered a serious contender for a race spot for 2008.

The McLaren test driver had hoped to become a racing driver in F1 with Prodrive, but his ambitions were shattered when the team’s plans for the 2008 season fell through.

But Prodrive is still looking into its options to try and be on the grid in 2009. Paffett admits he won’t sit idly by regarding the chances he gets to become an F1 driver.

« I have always had ties with McLaren and Prodrive. Becoming a race driver for Prodrive equipped by McLaren would be a good thing. The connection with the team from Woking would remain intact, » said Paffett.

« But for now there is no confirmation of an entry into F1, so I must focus on what we are currently doing. Among other things, to do the best to ensure McLaren is ready for the Melbourne Grand Prix with the new car. »

Pedro (de la Rosa), Lewis (Hamilton), Fernando (Alonso), and I have done an excellent job to achieve last year’s level of performance.

Paffett admits he was very disappointed when Prodrive had to withdraw from the race at the end of last year.

« It was a huge disappointment. I can’t deny it. The Prodrive team is fantastic, the links with McLaren were perfect and I feel I had a very good chance of getting one of the seats, » he said.

« Then, when Fernando left the team there was a free seat and I tried to take my chance like Pedro did. We were both vying for that position. »

« I did some tests at the end of last year that went very well. The pace was quite good and I did some very good tests. »

« The team made the decision that, according to them, was the fairest, » concluded Paffett.

He added that he hoped to achieve more tries in 2008 compared to the previous year.

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