Panis still driven by passion to race.

Olivier Panis has spoken of the burning desire to race again that led to his decision to hang up his Formula One overalls after 13 years at the pinnacle of the sport.

The popular Frenchman, who famously won the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix following a superb drive in an unfancied Ligier-Mugen Honda, has spent the past couple of years testing for Toyota, but a brief return to racing during the winter Trophee Andros at the start of the year relit the fire and competitive spirit inside of him.

"I was very happy to be a test-driver for Toyota for two years and the relationship between us has been really good," he told Crash.net during testing at Silverstone, one of the last times he will drive a modern Formula One car in anger. "But I turned 40 this year, and one day you have to turn the page. Motor racing is in my blood and I want to race again because I still feel fit and quick and I really want to take on a new challenge."

Looking back over his grand prix career, which spanned more than a decade and included stints with Ligier, Prost, McLaren, BAR and Toyota, Panis said there were many aspects he would be sad to leave behind, but he was adamant now was the right time to move on.

"The high points were managing to get into Formula One in the first place, with the support of Elf and Gauloises Blondes," he said. "After that for sure winning in Monaco was a big step forward and in 1997, even though I had my accident, it was the first time I had a car with which I could win races and fight for the podium most of the time. That's a good memory for me.

"I had a very good season with McLaren in 2000 too. Every choice I made I always did my best for the team I was working with. I don't regret anything."

Asked what he would miss the most though, the answer was instant: "Driving the car. Nothing else in motor racing can give you the same feeling, the same speed or the same sensation. I will miss a lot of people too because I've worked in Formula One for 13 years and I've made some good friends in that time."

The two defining moments during Panis' time in Formula One were undoubtedly his brilliant Monaco success and, little more than 12 months later, the accident in Montreal that threatened to derail his career.

"Monaco was unbelievable," he said. "I didn't believe with the car I had I would be able to win there like I did. For sure the weather helped me a lot but even without that the weekend was going well.

"The car was pretty competitive and to win there for a French driver with lots of French people present was a fantastic moment, both for me and for the Ligier team. I was very happy for everybody who had helped me to get into Formula One, and it was a big step forward.

"Coming back from the accident in Canada was very difficult. It was caused by a part failing on the car, but we all know Formula One is dangerous. After that I wanted to get back in the car as quickly as possible. It took me three months, which was quite quick. Some days I was working six hours - I was desperate to come back! I wasn't feeling much improvement but I was always pushing and pushing.

"Then when I did get back into the car I didn't have enough power to brake with just one leg - I had to brake with two with a special pedal fitted. But I was stronger in my mind and very happy to come back and continue my passion."

That passion remains undimmed to this day, and characteristic of the Lyonnais' style was his sheer grit and determination to succeed and never-say-die approach. Few drivers stayed at the track as late as Panis over the course of a grand prix weekend or testing day.

Those qualities will doubtless serve him well in his next challenge, which he says he started thinking about earlier this year.

"During the winter I took part in the Trophee Andros," he said. "I really enjoyed it - the fight into the first corner, the braking for positions. It still wakes me up, and I feel really motivated. I still have the speed and the fitness. I just felt now was the time to do something else.

"I talked with Tsutomu Tomita and John Howett and the top Toyota management and explained to them what I wanted to do and they understood and were very supportive. I've enjoyed working with Toyota a lot. We put in a lot of effort and inside the team I have a lot of respect and I respect everyone else too. I've had a really good time here."

Panis predicted a bright future for the Japanese squad, which he said didn't deserve the reputation for underachievement and overspending it is frequently labelled with.

"I know there's sometimes a lot of criticism about Toyota but I am seeing it from the inside," he added. "It's a very good team. Everyone there is doing their best to make progress and win races. I'm very confident about the team's future.

"Formula One isn't easy, and to win a race is really tough. Having the stability to win a championship is even more difficult, but for sure if Toyota continue to improve as they are doing one day they will win. They're on the right path now.

"If Toyota do something else as well I would like to follow them but for the moment they're just focussing on Formula One. Maybe one day I will return to the family."

If the winter ice series was the catalyst that set the wheels in motion for Olivier's return to racing, what he will actually be doing next year still has yet to be decided. A leading role in Peugeot's Le Mans project has been mooted, as have rides in the DTM or WTCC.

"If it's just Le Mans I don't want to do it," he said, "but I am thinking about doing a full sportscar championship or the DTM or WTCC. I'm looking at the DTM with Mika (Hakkinen). We are good friends and I've been to two or three races with him. When I watched the start I felt something call me. I want to race again but it has to be a good programme."

Whether Olivier Panis ends up at Le Mans, in the DTM, WTCC or somewhere else in 2007, one thing is for sure - Formula One's loss is very definitely someone else's gain.