Formula 1
Renault best situation for McNish
New Renault signing Allan McNish thinks being a test driver for the team was the best he could hope for apart from a race seat. Renault confirmed Franck Montagny and ex-Toyota driver McNish this week and the Scot is happy to remain in Formula One.
Edited: Jan 11, 2003, 3:05 AM
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New Renault signing Allan McNish thinks being a test driver for the team was the best he could hope for apart from a race seat. Renault confirmed Franck Montagny and ex-Toyota driver McNish this week and the Scot is happy to remain in Formula One. McNish was considering a move to the States but when Renault contacted him towards the end of last year, he didn't waste any time sorting out a deal.
"Obviously I'd prefer to be racing but this is the best situation I could have, apart from a race seat," he told the British press. "I was looking at doing something in the United States but Renault contacted me before the end of the year and when they explained what they were trying to do we sorted out a deal quickly."
"It keeps me involved in F1.The deal means I will be testing on Fridays at every grand prix. I will have to approach each grand prix as if it was a race. The input I will be given will be real and live and not something historic."
Toyota surprised many when it dropped both McNish and Mika Salo at the end of the 2002 season in favour of an all-new driver line up for this year. Salo appears to have quietly faded into the background but McNish was always determined he would continue to drive in some capacity. His one and only competitive year in F1 with Toyota was not a huge success but the test role with Renault will keep him firmly on the scene.
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