AUGUST 16, 2000

Panis confirms he will join BAR

OLIVIER PANIS has confirmed that he is joining British American Racing next season, as revealed last Friday in Budapest.

Panis announced that he will sign a two-year deal with BAR to replace Ricardo Zonta at the Brackley-based team.

Speaking during testing at Silverstone on Wednesday, Panis said he will fulfil his testing duties with McLaren for the rest of this season.

"It's going to be a totally different experience and a completely different car to the McLaren," said Panis. "But it's a new challenge and I'm so happy that I'll be racing again.

"I've worked for Honda before, so it's nice to come back to them. I'm very, very happy."

Frenchman Panis made his debut in Formula One for Ligier in 1994 and after his sole win in Monaco in 1996 he drove for Prost until he was released at the end of the 1999 season.