JANUARY 22, 1996

Blundell joins PacWest

THE announcement that Ukyo Katayama was to be retained by Tyrrell put paid to Mark Blundell's hopes for a Grand Prix drive in 1996, and the Englishman has decided not to wait around to see if there is any chance of staying at McLaren for another season. Instead, Mark has signed to drive for the PacWest Indycar team for the next two seasons, where he will join another F1 refugee, Mauricio Gugelmin.

Blundell beat JJ Lehto and Allan McNish to secure the PacWest drive.

It is not the first time that Blundell has been passed over in F1. The 29-year-old made his F1 debut with Brabham in 1991 but did not race F1 in 1992. He made a comeback with Ligier in 1993 and then moved to Tyrrell in 1994, but was dropped by the Ockham team at the end of that year and was fortunate to compete in most races last year for McLaren - after NigelÊMansell fell out with the team.

Blundell finished 10th in the World Championship in 1993, and again last year, but will probably do better in the UnitedÊStates.

Print News Story