Zoom It remains to be seen how much influence McLaren will have on driver choice

Pedro de la Rosa has refused to comment on widespread speculation in Spanish newspapers that he is a leading candidate to race with the newly McLaren Mercedes equipped Force India team in 2009.

De la Rosa, who is McLaren's test driver, confirmed this week to the Spanish publication Sport that he would like to return to race duties. "Of course, like all drivers, what I really want to do is to race," he said.

The 37-year old insisted, however, that his current task is to aid the development of McLaren's cars.

Referring to the speculation, he said from his home in Zurich: "At the moment, there is nothing to say. " He declined to comment at all to Diario AS, the newspaper that speculates that de la Rosa could split the Force India racing role with his McLaren test duties.

The Barcelona-born driver is expected to test for McLaren at Circuit de Catalunya next week. De la Rosa has contested 72 Grand Prix, most recently for McLaren in Brazil two years ago.

E.A, Source: GMM
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