Winkelhock ready for emotional debut

LONDON: Germany will have five Formula One drivers on the 22-man starting grid at the Nuerburgring on Sunday after Spyker confirmed Markus Winkelhock for his home European Grand Prix.

Winkelhock, 27, will make his debut at the scene of his father Manfred's last grand prix before his death in a sportscar race at Mosport in Canada in 1985.

"This was the last track my father raced a Formula One car on before he died," the Stuttgart driver said in a team interview on Wednesday.

"Now I can make my Formula One debut on the last track he ever raced on in F1.

"My mother was a bit emotional," added the German. "She is clearly very happy that I can achieve something I have wanted for so long but obviously a little nervous too...she will watch the race on TV I think rather than coming to the track."

Winkelhock replaces Dutchman Christijan Albers, whose contract was terminated by the Dutch-owned team because of a sponsorship problem.

"I haven't had much time in the car this year but I'm physically and mentally prepared. It's a one-off opportunity at the moment and I will make the most of it," added the test driver.

Winkelhock will partner German rookie Adrian Sutil in Sunday's 10th round of the championship. Ferrari-powered Spyker are last in the standings.

The team have yet to announce a replacement for Albers, with India's Narain Karthikeyan and Austrian Christian Klien both in the frame.

Apart from the Spyker pair, Germany's other drivers on Sunday are Ralf Schumacher (Toyota), Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) and Nico Rosberg (Williams).

Agencies

(China Daily 07/20/2007 page23)