Paffett in ‘shoot-out’ for de la Rosa’s ride

(GMM) Test driver Gary Paffett is in the running to replace Pedro de la Rosa as McLaren's second racer for the rest of the 2006 season.

Alongside de la Rosa and team regular Kimi Raikkonen, the British rookie will do a four-day 'shoot-out' at Jerez this week, and the prize could be a race debut in Hungary, according to the 'Mirror' newspaper in Britain.

McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh, meanwhile, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the Woking based team will select from within the 'family' to replace the departed Juan Pablo Montoya full-time next year.

''We have some very good talent in the family,'' he said, referring to de la Rosa, Paffett, and McLaren-sponsored GP2 sensation Lewis Hamilton.