Triple Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais has ruled out moving to formula one with the Toro Rosso team in 2007.
Although Toro Rosso is now the only team yet to confirm its driver lineup for next year, 27-year-old Bourdais said he will categorically not abandon his Champ Car commitment with the Illinois-based Newman-Haas.
“I will be driving the McDonald’s (Champ Car) car in 2007 to try to win a fourth consecutive championship,” he told F1’s official website.
“If it does go through with Toro Rosso, it will be for 2008.”
Frenchman Bourdais also rejected any suggestion that he could return to Europe to reach F1 via the GP2 route, which means that he is relying on the ongoing interest of Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger.
Berger said this week that Bourdais is “definitely in the frame” for a seat in 2008.
Following his impressive run at Jerez last week, Bourdais agreed: “You don’t get to test a formula one (car) for three days if the team doesn’t consider you for a near future, but that is totally in their hands and nothing is decided yet.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
