Montoya Confident about 2002 BMW Engine

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya is confident that BMW's 2002 Formula One engine will be an improvement on this year's model.

"I have already seen the new BMW engine and it looks a lot better," the 26-year-old Williams driver said on a visit to Bogota. "It's going to be smoother and more powerful. It's going to be a really good step for us."

Montoya, in his first season in Formula One, has been on pole three times and won last month's Italian Grand Prix. The existing BMW engine is already regarded as the class of the field for its considerable power. BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen has said the engine should be lighter, smaller and more powerful.

Theissen said this week that the German manufacturer wanted to test the engine before a winter test ban starts following next week's Japanese Grand Prix. Montoya said the final race of the season at Suzuka should also suit his car.

"I think the race in Japan is going to be very interesting because it has long straights and the car has worked very well and should be very fast there," he said.

Montoya visited the Tocancipa circuit north of Bogota, where he started out racing, on Wednesday and gave a group of children high speed rides in a BMW car. The driver also competed in a six-lap demonstration race against 10-year-old compatriot Carlos Perdomo, who has already won various national competitions and is the only child in Colombia with a driving license.