Lauda's son Mathias goes up a gear
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Austrian Mathias Lauda has moved a step closer to following father and former champion Niki into F1 by securing a drive in this year's F3000 series.
The Italian Coloni team said the 23-year-old had signed to take part in the championship that forms part of the grand prix weekend at European races.
"I don't have any great ambition or feel any obligation to reach F1 and repeat the success my father had," Lauda said. "But if I do have success and can move up to the top series I'm certainly going to be happy about it and so will my father."
Lauda senior won three world championships, two with Ferrari and one with McLaren, before retiring in 1985 to run his own airline. He was also Jaguar F1 team chief from 2001 to late 2002.
Britain's Damon Hill is the only son of a former champion to have won the Formula One title but there are plenty of others involved in motorsport.
Brazilian Nelson Piquet junior, son of the three times champion and namesake, recently tested for Williams along with Nico Rosberg, son of Finland's 1982 champion Keke.
* F3000 champion Bjorn Wirdheim was confirmed Tuesday as official reserve and test driver for the Jaguar F1 team this season.
"I am delighted to be joining Jaguar Racing in my new role and look forward to helping the team in achieving its goals this season," said the 23-year-old Swede.
