Marques may claim MF1 third driver role

With signed driver Nicky Pastorelli's hopes of taking that role on hold after a personal sponsor backed out of his support, MF1 are now considering their options for 2006.

And with the team evaluating a number of drivers at Jerez this week, including Fabrizio del Monte today, Marques claims he has now been approached about a deal.

Speaking to Brazilian website, Grande Premio, Marques said: "We are sorting out the contract and we must wait some time. I wasn't expecting it, but they called me and asked me if I wanted the seat.

"I'm now standing by - I wish things could be resolved quickly so I could test at Jerez."

MF1's sporting director Johnny Herbert told autosport.com earlier in the week that the team had not yet made their mind up about who their third driver would be - and claimed that Pastorelli was not yet completely out of the picture.

"We are now currently carrying out an evaluation process for the third driver," Herbert told autosport.com.

"We are definitely running a third car and some of the drivers here are part of the process. Nicky is also part of the process as he is trying to get his financial side sorted out."