DECEMBER 28, 2000

Wurz to follow in Panis footsteps

ALEX WURZ has declared his intent on securing a seat in one of Formula One's leading teams in the coming seasons, and he has singled out British American Racing driver Olivier Panis as his role model.

Wurz accepted the offer of test driver at McLaren even though a host of tail-end Formula One teams were chasing his signature as a first team driver.

The Austrian has highlighted the path taken by Panis, who also tested for McLaren, as an example of the route he wishes to follow.

"Olivier showed that you can prove how good you are by putting in good times in testing," Wurz told British newspaper, The Times.

"I am now in a great position to show that I can do a job in a Formula One car because I am very technically minded and I like to help the engineers produce the best car."

"Now I am in the best car in F1 so I can show that I have the ability to get back into a full-time drive."