Nick Heidfeld to Drive for McLaren!

Relaxed
By pitpass.com
March 31 2003

Nick Heidfeld has finally got the call to drive an F1 McLaren! Heidfeld originally missed out to ex-Sauber racer Kimi Raikkonen in the battle for a top seat.

The German, who won the 1999 F3000 Championship driving the McLaren 'Junior' car in addition to his testing role with the Woking team, was hurt and angry when his Sauber team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was recruited by the World Championship winning team at the end of 2001, after just one season.

Heidfeld, and indeed many in F1, believed the young German's eventual recruitment to a full race seat with the Mercedes powered team was only a matter of time. Clearly not.

Now however Nick will once again enjoy the thrill of driving one of the mighty silver and black machines.

Between July 11 and 13 this year, Sauber has given its German star special permission to drive a McLaren at Goodwood as he attempts to beat the record he set in 1999 when he drove 'the hill' in 41.6s.

It's understood that six F1 teams have already committed to this year's event as Goodwood celebrates its tenth running of the Festival of Speed.

McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Renault, BAR and Jordan will be there while Ferrari and Minardi are also expected to be represented.

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.