Jul.23 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has played down reports that he is close to securing a contract to return to formula one with the new USF1 team in 2010.
Germany's Sport Bild claimed on Wednesday that the 1997 world champion, now 38, could be unveiled as USF1's first confirmed race driver for 2010 within the next few weeks."This is just a rumour," the 11-time grand prix winner told the French language Canadian sports network RDS in Belgium, where this weekend he will race in the GT3 category at the Spa-Francorchamps 24 hours.The French Canadian added: "I have had talks with several teams but the chances of returning (to F1) remain slim."Also in the wake of the German report, Villeneuve denied speaking to a Sport Bild reporter and said he has only had brief contacts with officials of the USF1 team.USF1 co-principal Peter Windsor, however, acknowledges that while the ambition is to have American drivers, the team might consider signing an experienced driver for its first season.Sport Bild mentioned in its Wednesday report that Alexander Wurz was another option.
