Bourdais Targets F1 For 2007

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BOURDAIS TARGETS F1 FOR 2007

ITV

French race ace Sebastien Bourdais is aiming to break into Formula 1 in 2007 after re-signing with Paul Newman's team in the US-based Champ Car series for another year.

Bourdais, who secured back-to-back Champ Car titles at Surfers Paradise last weekend, remains one of France's best hopes of becoming a front-line Formula 1 driver.

"In 2007 obviously it will probably be my last chance to make it to F1 and I'd very much like to make the jump," he said in a press conference.

Although Renault won the constructors' title in 2005, France has not had a representative on the grid since Olivier Panis retired last season.

The only other Frenchman to have appeared on F1's periphery was Franck Montagny who tested for Jordan during the European Grand Prix and is chasing a ride with the team now known as Midland.

Ironically Renault picked Montagny instead of Bourdais as its test driver at the end of 2002, after the pair tested for the team.

Bourdais also turned down Flavio Briatore's offer of a management contract and opted to pursue a race-seat with Arrows - which collapsed on him when the team went bankrupt.

Bourdais hasn't ruled out making his F1 race debut with the

French manufacturer in the future however.

"Obviously, Renault is a French company, but it's also a multi-national company," he said.

"It's got markets all over the world and they probably have interest to have non-French drivers.

"All I can ask for right now is to try and start the relationship in 2006 with the team, try to test a few times which is going to be added in my contract, and to start in 2007," he added.

"So far nothing really happened and all I can say is I am pretty successful and happy in Champ Cars, and there's not much I can do about not being handed an opportunity in F1.

"So we'll see what the future comes up with."

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i hope he gets a seat in a competitive F1 team

its silly that flavio briatore didnt choose him just because he rejected FB as his manager

Sebastien is really talented and i think he'll do very good in F1