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Blundell to make F1 testing move?

Mark Blundell could make a return to Formula 1 next year as the Briton is thought to be in line for a testing role within a top team for 2001, according to this week's Autosport magazine

Blundell 's contract with the PacWest Champ Car team will not be renewed at the end of the season and as such the three-time CART race winner will be out of a drive. The 34-year-old had talks with various teams at last weekend's United States Grand Prix.

"There's some interest in this pitlane, perhaps as a test driver," said Blundell, who used to test for Williams and McLaren.

"I was the one that originally set the ball rolling with test drivers in big teams and I'm still young enough to do it. I'm only the same age as [McLaren tester] Olivier Panis."

Blundell has not completely written off staying in Champ Cars, but he said he would prefer to test for a leading Formula 1 outfit rather than run in the midfield with an average CART team.

"F1 testing would definitely appeal more and it would be better for my career than a bad CART team. I've got a lot to offer."

Blundell has good links with top teams Williams and McLaren and also Mercedes after taking over Nigel Mansell's McLaren seat in 1995 and five seasons in CART using Stuttgart power. A move to the German DTM series is also: "definitely a possibility," he said.

Rumours have also linked Blundell with a full-time drive at Sauber, as a replacement for the imminently departing Pedro Diniz, but these are thought to be wide of the mark.

To read an exclusive Q&A with Mark Blundell from the USGP, click HERE.

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