Luca Badoer - more testing ?!

[robsinfield]

Italy - teatime yesterday. Ambitious racer and Tracey Emin lookalike, Luca Badoer (47) has re-signed as Ferrari test driver alongside fellow Formula One legends, Marc Gene and Andrea Bertolini. Said a delighted Luca 'For sure, I am happy to be testing for a 23rd year running, but of course my aim is to be racing again soon'. With nil GP winner Mika Salo also joining the test squad, Ferrari soon hope to have enough 'B' grade drivers to assist with non test duties, including driving the transporters and motorhomes between races and handling all the PR crap Michael Schumacher won't touch with a bargepole.

Robbo
www.grandprixdiary.com

[robsinfield]

Spot on Pablo - I was just taking the mickey out of Luca. He gets around $4 million a year for what he does - best luck to him I say !

Robbo
www.grandprixdiary.com

[robsinfield]

I agree to a point, it is sad to see the likes of Wurz and Davidson testing when they should be racing, but for the likes of Badoer and Gene, its testing F1 cars on a squillion pounds a year or mucking around driving around in circles in the States - know where I'd be !

Cheers,

Rob
www.grandprixdiary.com

[robsinfield]

Its an interesting point. I used to be a mate of Olly Gavin who was British F3 champ in '93 (ish !) and apart from a disasterous dalliance with Pacific and some testing for Benetton that was as close as he got to F1. Now he is plying his trade for Corvette in the US and at Le Mans and doing very nicely but I would wonder if he would not give all that up for a Ferrari test contract ? I sure as hell would !

Rob
www.grandprixdiary.com