NOVEMBER 22, 2000

Zonta hoping to race in 2002

BRAZILIAN Ricardo Zonta is hoping to follow in the same footsteps as French driver Olivier Panis after joining Jordan as a test driver and relinquishing his chances of a race drive with another outfit for 2001.

Panis took a break from racing to test with McLaren in an effort to revamp his career, which has now seen him take up a seat at British American Racing, and now Zonta is hoping to follow in the same direction.

Zonta firmly believes that with a year of testing he stands a better chance of moving up the Formula One ladder.

He said: "I've thought a lot about next year and going to Jordan as a test driver and it's defiantly the right decision for me.

"Another season at the back of the grid - which is where my options for a race seat were heading - would have been bad and no good for my motivation."

He continued: "It's a bit annoying not to be racing because I would have liked to have had the chance to show how I can improve, but I want to be in a good car, and if I show my potential, it could be with Jordan in 2002."