Kristensen Out Of Zanardi Frame.
Danish driver Tom Kristensen removed himself from the scrum to replace Alex Zanardi at Williams, by signing for Honda's British Touring Car team yesterday [Wednesday].
The former F3000 star had been tipped as a possible replacement for the struggling Italian, who media sources claim has parted company with Williams after failing to score a point in 1999. Kristensen, a sportscar driver for Williams' new engine partner BMW this season, had been considered an outsider for the drive because of his age - he is 32 - and the experience of others named as possible replacements.
Danish driver Tom Kristensen removed himself from the scrum to replace Alex Zanardi at Williams, by signing for Honda's British Touring Car team yesterday [Wednesday].
The former F3000 star had been tipped as a possible replacement for the struggling Italian, who media sources claim has parted company with Williams after failing to score a point in 1999. Kristensen, a sportscar driver for Williams' new engine partner BMW this season, had been considered an outsider for the drive because of his age - he is 32 - and the experience of others named as possible replacements.
Another possible replacement crept into the frame during the day, however, as it emerged that Japanese F3 champion Darren Manning may test with Williams at Barcelona this week. Although he has to be considered a long shot to replace Zanardi for 2000, Manning has caught Frank Williams' eye on more than one occasion, and may be in line for a permanent test drive as a result.
Zanardi's future remains uncertain, meanwhile, with BMW motorsport boss Gerhard Berger today hinting that he would like to see Champcar titleist Juan Montoya driving a Williams in 2000. Both Zanardi and the Grove outfit deny that there has been a parting of the ways however, and insist that they will remain together for the second year of the Italian's contract.
