Debutant Enge has mixed feelings

The 25-year-old, who is set to finish third in the Formula 3000 championship, is the first Czech ever to make it to Formula 1.

He is stepping in for Brazilian Luciano Burti, who was injured when he crashed out of the Belgian Grand Prix at 170mph a fortnight ago and is still recuperating.

"I have mixed feelings," admitted Enge, who finished 20th of the 22 cars in Friday practice, 1.8 seconds slower than team mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 10th. "I am here because of Luciano's accident in Spa, so I wish him a good and a quick recovery.

"I want to concentrate on my progression today rather than the car's, but I am happy from today because I haven't done any big mistakes. It went well for me, so I am hoping for a good lap so I can be fighting for a good time and a good grid position as well."

Enge said he got an enthusiastic response in Prague when he was confirmed as a Prost driver.

"When we told the Czech people, there was a big cheer and everyone was wishing me good luck," he recalled. "Now I am like most of the well known sportsmen in Czech."

Enge said he did not feel he was under pressure to produce results for one of the pitlane's minnows.

"I don't feel too much pressure," he said. "It's a bit different if I was fighting for first position, because then the pressure is there to get to the front or to get a good lap time. But the pressure is not there too much now.

"I am more concentrated on my driving than worrying about what people think about me. The best thing for me is that everyone is behind me in my country and I am proud to be Czech."