Burti Aiming for Permanent F1 Drive

Brazilian Luciano Burti, who will contest his first grand prix on Sunday, already has his sights set on a permanent Formula One drive next season.

The 25-year-old Jaguar-Cosworth test driver will replace last year's Austrian winner Eddie Irvine on the A1-Ring after the Ulsterman was forced to pull out due to abdominal pains.

"This will be my chance to impress," said Burti, who started as a Formula One test driver two years ago.

Burti admitted he was aware Jaguar were looking for more experienced drivers than himself but both Irvine and fellow Briton Johnny Herbert have been linked with moves.

"I know the team is trying to find a driver with more experience but I still think I have a small chance for next year. But it won't be easy to prove myself," he said.

Other drivers to have made the leap from test to main driver include David Coulthard, who took over in the Williams cockpit after the death of Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna.

Britain's 1996 world champion Damon Hill is another who made the step up when he joined Alain Prost in the Williams team.

Second to Last on Grid

Burti will start Sunday's race second to last on the grid. Only Argentine Minardi-Fondmetal driver Gaston Mazzacane clocked a slower time than the Brazilian.

But Burti, who is from Sao Paulo, remained optimistic. "This is my first race. I'm pleased with my performance, especially considering that I hadn't driven on this track before this morning and even then I only did a few laps," he said.

"It's also the first time I've driven the car in qualifying so I had to spend time finding the limit of the car. I think just to be close to the other drivers here is an achievement.

"I'm happy and looking forward to tomorrow," he said, adding he had received some advice from compatriot Rubens Barrichello, who drives for Ferrari.

Burti impressed Jaguar team officials.

"For someone who was thrown in at the deep end Luciano did a very good job considering we didn't give him the best possible opportunity," Jaguar technical director Gary Anderson said.

"He's never seen the circuit, he had just 45 minutes to prepare himself, he was using an unfamiliar set-up but he managed to complete a solid session."

Burti will be one of four Brazilians competing in Sunday's race together with Barrichello, Ricardo Zonta from the BAR team and Pedro Diniz from Sauber.