Liuzzi interested in Le Mans drive
The 27-year-old Italian is already active in the Middle Eastern-based touring car series Speedcar, as the workload of a formula one test driver throttles back even further due to the new restrictions.
Liuzzi will travel the entire 2009 calendar as Force India's reserve driver, but his only taste of the VJM02 single seater is likely to be a short Silverstone shakedown prior to Melbourne.
After that, the in-season test ban comes into force, and testers for most F1 teams will instead be active in other racing categories.
"Of course I will try to have a look round to try and keep racing without taking my focus away from F1, as this is for sure my main thing," Liuzzi, a veteran of 39 grands prix for Red Bull's F1 teams, said.
"I want to keep my racing experience going and that's why I am looking at projects such as the Le Mans 24 hours.
"The plan is still fluid for now, but for sure I will try many categories that can keep me racing at a top level," he added.
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| Tonio Liuzzi |
03/01/09 Vitantonio Liuzzi has admitted that he would be interested in a drive at Le Mans this summer due to the new testing regulations brought into play in Formula One. Liuzzi will remain with the Force India team this season as test and reserve driver but will see his time at the wheel of the new VJM02 hit by new rules that severely limit testing over the course of the year.
“Unfortunately the rules this year do not favor test drivers very much, both pre-season and during the season, but I am still really looking forward to it," he said. “There have been many changes in the regulations, both on the technical and aerodynamic side, with new systems such as KERS and also slick tires being used, so it will be a difficult year for everybody as it will change the field a lot. I am excited about this as, from a driver perspective, it's a new challenge with lots of new things to discover and develop.
“Of course I will try to have a look round to try and keep racing without taking my focus away from F1, as this is for sure my main thing. I want to keep my racing experience going and that's why I am looking at projects such as the Le Mans 24 hours. The plan is still fluid for now, but for sure I will try many categories that can keep me racing at a top level."
“I think we have made a really good step forward," he said. “Last year was the first season for Force India and we were still trying to build a strong structure. Now we have made the right structure and are building a team that can be successful in the future.
“The first year is difficult for any new team and you always see results after two, maybe even three, years but I think we are going in the right direction and I am sure this will already give results this year. The link with McLaren and Mercedes is a very good move."