Pedro de la Rosa wants Alonso ride
 |
|
Pedro de la Rosa |
(GMM) Pedro de la Rosa has counted himself in the running to replace his countryman Fernando Alonso at McLaren for 2008.
The Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo said 36-year-old de la Rosa is a friend of Emilio Botin, the boss of McLaren's Spanish sponsor Santander who is reportedly unhappy about Alonso's team exit.
"Everybody wants to be a McLaren driver," de la Rosa told Spanish press on Wednesday at Madrid's International Exhibition of Information Technology.
The Barcelona born driver is guaranteed McLaren's continuing primary test seat next year and also in 2009.
He substituted for Juan Pablo Montoya last year and subsequently hoped to be granted the seat that ultimately in 2007 was occupied by Lewis Hamilton.
"My dream has always been to race and, naturally, it is that possibility that keeps me going as a test driver," the Spaniard continued.
"I'll try, of course I will. At the moment the team is in no rush and neither am I.
"If they need a driver, I'm ready and willing, that's for sure," de la Rosa said.
With Williams' Nico Rosberg now out of the running, also tenuously linked with the drive is 24-year-old French-Canadian DTM driver Bruno Spengler, who was thought to be a candidate for a Prodrive seat next year.
11/07/07 Pedro de la Rosa has put himself in the frame to replace Fernando Alonso at McLaren for the 2008 season.
Spaniard De la Rosa has worked as McLaren's test and development driver since 2003 and contested the final eight races of the 2006 season after Juan Pablo Montoya left the team to pursue a career in NASCAR. The 36-year-old former Arrows and Jaguar driver was in the running to land the coveted drive on a permanent basis at the end of last season before team principal Ron Dennis hired Britain's Lewis Hamilton.
De la Rosa told El Pais newspaper: "At the moment the team is in no rush and neither am I. What's 100% certain is that I will be a McLaren test driver and that I have two years left of my contract.
"If the team needs a driver, I'm ready and willing, that's for sure." Alonso left the Woking-based team just 12 months into a three-year deal last week following a turbulent season that saw the 26-year-old finish third in the title race behind Hamilton and new world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
The double world champion is now the subject of feverish speculation as to who he will drive for next season – with Renault and Red Bull Racing the favorites to secure his services – but De la Rosa was tight-lipped on his compatriot's future plans.
"It's a personal decision which I prefer not to discuss because I'm nobody to say anything," he said. "To me it was a pleasure to work with him, he's a great champion. "Fernando is not my team-mate any more and it would be wrong to talk about his future." Sporting Life