Paffett: A `door to be opened` at Force India.
Gary Paffett has revealed that he is bullish about his chances of finally grabbing a spot on the grand prix grid in 2009, insisting that there is '൩a door to be opened' at Force India - and that he is determined to be the man to open it.
The Bromley-born ace has tested for McLaren-Mercedes for the past three years, but the hoped-for call-up to join the top flight as a race driver has still not materialised, despite him being linked to the ultimately still🌊born Prodrive F1 pro꧙ject back at the beginning of 2008.
Gary Paffett has revealed that he is bullish about his chances of finally grabbing a spot💛 on the grand prix grid in 2009, insisting that there is 'a door to be opened' at Force India - and that he is 🤡determined to be the man to open it.
The Bromley-born ace has tested for McLaren-Mercedes for the past three years, but the hoped-for call-up to join the top flight as a race driver has still not 🌳materialised, despite him being linked to th🌼e ultimately stillborn Prodrive F1 project back at the beginning of 2008.
Now, however, following McLaren's tie-up with Force India - in a deal that will see the Silverstone-based minnows supplied with Mercedes-Benz engines from next season onwards, as well as KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) technology and associated assistance - Paffett's name has begun to be mentioned in connection with the former Midland and Spyker concern, alongsidౠe fellow McLaren tester Pedro de la R♛osa and DTM colleague Paul di Resta.
"I've shown, certainly in the past, that my racecraft is good and that I'm a natural racer," the 2005 DTM Champion told UK newspaper The Sun. "Combine thatꦬ with the speed I have in an F1 car, and it's a pretty good package.
"I've got three years' experience testing for the best team in F1. That in itself is invaluable for a team tryi🎃ng to develop a car, and would certainly put the pieces of the puzzle together for the r﷽elationship between Force India and McLaren.
"Ther𓆏e's certainly a door to be opened with McLaren teaming up with Force India technically and with Mercedes engines and gearboxes, [and] I feel I am ready to race in Formula 1."
The former McLaren/Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year - still only 27 - did acknowledge, however, that these are tough times ꧑for all involved in F1, with Honda's shock announcement last wee🃏k that it is to withdraw with immediate effect reckoned to be just the tip of the iceberg.
"Things seem to be a little bit difficult in general at the moment," Paffett recognised. "We'll just have to get through this patch and see what⛄ happens, but I am doing everything I can to get myself racing a🔥gain."
