Allan McNish fearing the season start

Wants to be in
By Site staff
December 16 2002

It was quite a shock when the announcement came from the Toyota top brass that they were to drop the 2002 lineup of Mika Salo and Allan McNish. The Scotsman feels strongly that he should be out there for the team, and isn't looking forward to the 2003 starter in Melbourne.

As the pre-Christmas test season closes, and the Toyota 2003 drivers get their first taste of the team, McNish has been publically hurting over the fact that he isn't out there in that Toyota car any more. Recently Mika Salo lashed out at the team in a furious attack against the team and it's new pilots. Allan is a little more gentle in his words.

"Motor-racing is a risky business on and off the track and I always knew when my contract finished I could be told I was no longer required. But it still came as a surprise," he has been quoted as saying in The Sun.

"I really don't know what Panis can bring to the team. Da Matta is more high-profile because he has just won the CART championship but only time will tell whether he can do it in F1.

"I should be out there testing with the rest of them. It may hit me even harder when the season starts in Australia next March and I am no longer part of it.

"Never having sat in an F1 car would be a lot worse than what's happened to me."