McNish wants more than test drive

Allan McNish is optimistic for the future, despite being dropped by Toyota for next season, but the Scot is aiming for more than a testing role after his first taste of racing this year. At a press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix today, McNish ...

Allan McNish is optimistic for the future, despite being dropped by Toyota for next season, but the Scot is aiming for more than a testing role after his first taste of racing this year. At a press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix today, McNish commented on Toyota's decision and his hopes for the future.

Allan McNish.

Photo by Toyota Racing.

"It is slightly disappointing to be leaving the team, but 2003 is coming up and I am looking forward to that very much. I think my future is stronger than where we are leaving off. With regards to where I am going, we will have to wait and see because that is not fixed yet, but I am very confident that I will be in a good situation next year."

"It is better for me to know sooner rather than later. We need to try and get things moving. If you are being held on late options on your contract, other seats will move and things change and you cannot be involved in that. That is detrimental to your career."

"At the end of the day, optimism is determined by what you can do so therefore I am very happy with the position we are in at the moment. Obviously I would like to have stayed with Toyota. The relationship has worked very well and it has built up over the last few years. It is very strong."

"I have enjoyed my year a lot. However, if there was an opportunity to just test in Formula One that would not be my prime aim. I have had a taste of Formula One and enjoyed it. It has been a good year. I think there is more to come out of Allan McNish if we get the right opportunities."

"The only time I really knew this was going to happen was when it was black and white. I think that you have got to look at it from a personal point of view. There are some things I can influence and others which I can't and from a personal point of view I think I did a good job this year."

"I had a good opportunity, they have given me the chance to come into Formula One and we have worked well. Now I have got to take my experiences from Formula One and develop on from those. Not think 'Oh, my goodness, that was a shock!' I have got to race this weekend."

"I am always a bit dubious to say a date as to when I will know what I am doing because things always take longer than what you hope. However, I would hope to have a bit more of an idea as to the exact direction things are going to take in the shorter term. I am a racing driver and that is what I do best, so racing is definitely the thing I am going to do. I haven't gone through the junior formulas thinking I am going to be a test driver."