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Klien still harbours F1 desires |
Christian Klien has not given up on his desire to race in Formula 1 again, despite his recent foray into sportscars with a run to third place on his Le Mans 24 Hours debut.
The BMW Sauber test and reserve driver has been out of racing action since 2006 when he was dropped by Red Bull Racing before the year was out, the Austrian since assuming testing duties with Honda before switching to BMW this year.
However, after accepting the chance to join Peugeot's all-star driver line-up for the endurance classic, Klien nonetheless maintains that he only has eyes for Formula 1 and is not considering a switch to anywhere else some time soon.
Indeed, Klien admits that competing for Peugeot has merely increased his desire to race in Formula 1, claiming he wants to race in a similarly professional environment such as his current employers.
"Naturally I want to race in Formula One and although I have never changed my motivation to race it has become even stronger since having the chance to race for Peugeot at Le Mans," Klien told
Pitpass.
"I enjoyed that experience; to race a competitive car, to have the chance to win and to push all the time. I want to have the same experience in Formula One, and for sure the BMW Sauber F1 Team is my ideal choice. The team is working so well together, and the victory in Canada last month shows what can be achieved.
“There is still a lot of work ahead to become a consistent race-winning team, but the BMW Sauber F1 Team has that potential. Just in the same way as a team develops, I know I have developed also, and that makes me confident for the future."
Klien, a Formula 3 Masters winner, was something of a surprise choice to race for Jaguar in 2004, but he did at least experience modest success when the team morphed into Red Bull Racing, scoring a best finish of fifth at the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix. However, Klien later fell from favour when his Red Bull sponsorship was pulled following a dispute over his refusal to take up an offer of racing in the United States.
Nonetheless, he insists his rare combination of youth and experience should make him a target for many teams, even if he maintains he is happy with his role at BMW.
"I arrived in Formula One very quickly and, four years later, with three years race experience and now two years working with Honda and the BMW Sauber F1 Team , I have learned a lot," he added.
"I look at the drivers I raced in the lower formulae, including Robert [Kubica], and I know that with my experience and the support of a competitive team I can race well against anyone. I am very happy at the BMW Sauber F1 Team and people need to be reminded that I am not here only to test. I want to race, and sooner [rather] than later.”
