Formula One news

Winkelhock biding his time

Following speculation that test and reserve driver Markus Winkelhock would get to race this season for Spyker, the German has said he is happy to wait for his opportunity. Although the competition is very tough, especially amongst German drivers, he is now waiting for his chance to prove what he can do in the race arena.

"For sure the target for 2007 was to get a race seat," the 26-year-old said, having done four Friday practice sessions last season.

"But it's not easy to get a good package, and a lot of things have to be perfect. But I'm quite happy with the way things are at the moment."

Winkelhock hasn't done a lot of driving this year, and thus far his only experience of the 2007 car was a run at Silverstone in February, although he expects to have another outing soon.

Aside from his F1 running, Winkelhock's only race last season was a Porsche Supercup event at the Nurburgring, and inevitably he's keen to get out and have another go in something. However, he currently has no firm plans.

"I'm looking to do some races, maybe the Le Mans 24 Hours, or something like that. But I have to be at all the Grands Prix, so there is no time to do another championship."

Markus is part of a new wave of young German drivers to have come along in the slipstream of Michael Schumacher. Nico Rosberg and of course Adrian Sutil have recently followed in the footsteps of Ralf Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld, while Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock and Michael Ammermueller are among those knocking on the door as test drivers.

"At the moment it's quite a big fight for young German drivers to get into F1. Michael has gone, all the young guys are coming up, and there's a big fight! I think it's difficult now because the fans have enjoyed a lot of good results from Michael, and they've got used to having a winning German driver. But to win a race or a World Championship is really something special - it's not easy."

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