McNish Still Dreaming of F1 Future

British driver Allan McNish, winner of the American Le Mans Series sportscar world title at the weekend, said on Monday he was not too old to dream of a Formula One future.

The 31-year-old Scot has signed as Toyota's test driver for the coming season with the Japanese car giants set to enter Formula One in 2002.

Finland's Mika Salo, 34, is Toyota's other tester but the experienced Formula One veteran also has a contract to race for the team in their first Grand Prix season when he will be one of the oldest drivers on the grid.

Recent trends in Formula One have been towards younger drivers, such as the 20-year-old Briton Jenson Button and 21-year-old Finn Kimi Raikkonen.

"If I were to stand myself in front of an F1 team now and sell myself, I would say right away that I am a far better driver than I was 10 years ago, quicker, more thoughtful," McNish told the Daily Express newspaper.

"I'm not fazed by the idea of taking on the likes of Michael Schumacher, I faced him years ago and I know I am quick.

"How quick we will find out soon when the Toyota F1 car is running," added McNish, who said his aim was to match Salo and hope he can secure the second race drive with Toyota.

Toyota, whose Formula One team are based in Germany, are planning to launch their first car between the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix in March.

"The door to F1 is there and I have the key," said McNish. "It is up to me if I have the right machinery.

"I would not have done the deal with Toyota, giving up so much in sportscars, if I did not think that I was capable of really achieving something in F1."

McNish has been a test driver for both McLaren and Benetton previously and seemed destined for Formula One until a big accident which killed a spectator at Donington Park in 1990 when he was racing in Formula 3000 as a 20-year-old.

Compatriot David Coulthard, the McLaren driver who grew up near McNish's home of Dumfries, congratulated his compatriot on the title and said he hoped he made it to Formula One.