Giedo van der Garde has revealed that he is still hoping to get out in a
Formula One car this season, and is maintaining contact with the renamed
Force India operation in case testing opportunities arise.
Although he appeared to have pulled out of the race to land the vacant seat alongside
Adrian Sutil this season, the 22-year old admits that he is keen to supplement the team's development programme after missing out on a lot of opportunities because of a contract dispute with
Super Aguri and FIF1 predecessor Spyker in 2007. van der Garde has committed to race in this year's World Series by Renault with P1 Motorsport, but the sparse calendar should permit him to turn out alongside Sutil
Giancarlo Fisichella and confirmed test driver Tonio Liuzzi during the year.
"I hope to continue testing in F1 with the Force India team," he wrote in a column on his personal website, "In 2007, I tested several times for the [Spyker] team and I really enjoyed my outings. At the moment, we're negotiating with the team to get a contract as the test driver. Formula One is my main goal as a race driver so, if I can continue to test in
F1, I can get more experience."
The Dutchman was rumoured to be in the frame to replace countryman Christijan Albers when he was dropped by Spyker midway through last season, but the speculation was fuelled as much by his ongoing relationship with the daughter of one of the team's board members as by his performances on track. Instead, he continued testing, while racing to fifth overall in the World Series by
Renault.
"I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season," van der Garde commented, "I will be racing in the World Series by Renault again and I will do my best to fight for the title – that will be my only aim this season. I have been training hard in Italy with Dr Ceccarelli's Formula Medicine, [and] have done as much as I can to be fully in shape for the upcoming season."
