Klien and Bourdais stake claims to F1 drives

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London, July 13: Austrian Christian Klien kept up his hopes of a Formula One comeback with Spyker today after testing with the team for the first time at the Spa circuit in Belgium.

The Silverstone-based team are looking for a new driver from next week's European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring after terminating the contract of Dutchman Christijan Albers for financial reasons.

''Obviously it was a new team, new car and a new seat and it took some time to get used to it, but there is a good bunch of people here and I felt at home straight away,'' said the 24-year-old Klien in a team statement.

''I think it all went well, there is potential in the car and I enjoyed the day,'' added the Honda test and reserve driver, who raced for Red Bull last year.

Klien, whose main rival for the Spyker seat looks to be Indian Narain Karthikeyan, completed 63 laps but ended the day propping up the timesheets with a best lap more than two seconds off the pace of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari.

France's triple Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais was also in action, pressing his claims for a race seat with Toro Rosso next season. Bourdais was eighth fastest of the 11 on track.

''Towards the end of July we should know something,'' he said of his prospects.

Reuters>