Piquet still focused on F1 return

Source : www.autosport.com
By Steven English and Edd Straw

Nelson Piquet Jr has played down speculation that he is looking to a future in NASCAR and says he is determined to earn another opportunity to prove himself in Formula 1.

The 24-year-old Brazilian is due to test a NASCAR truck on Monday, but says he still wants to get back into F1 and is talking to several teams about next season.

"I will not rest until I have proven myself in F1," Piquet told AUTOSPORT.

"I'm speaking to a few teams that have open spaces and the new teams are still open. I am under no illusions about how difficult it will be, but I'm talking to people and if I'm given a chance, I will give 100 per cent."

Although Piquet is looking forward to his NASCAR truck test on Monday - and admits he is interested in categories other than F1 – he is not ready to leave grand prix racing behind yet.

"Red Horse Racing invited me [to the truck test] and I found it interesting," he told AUTOSPORT. "It's a different world that I've never experienced. It will be a fun experience with a good team. They have good backing from Toyota and they're a big manufacturer than can offer strong support."

When asked whether the test could take him down the NASCAR route next season, Piquet said: "That's not really the plan.

"This is more about exploring an exciting opportunity. I'd never even seen a car like this and it will be a good experience to see how it is.

"I would be interested in driving many kinds of cars if I had the opportunity, whether it was a rally car or an Indycar or anything like that. I've always enjoyed driving different kinds of cars.

"I did a round of the Porsche Supercup a few years and I did the Le Mans 24 Hours, which was an amazing experience. I definitely want to do Le Mans again. But my focus is still on F1."