by Russell Atkins

For the past five y๊ears, Pedro de la Rosa has formed an integral part of McLaren-Mercedes' Formula 1 efforts, as the Woking-based outfit's official tes𒆙t and reserve driver.

With the dawn of the 2008 campaign now not far away, the experienced Spaniard - who has competed in 72 grands prix in the top flight for McLaren, Jaguar and Arrows - spoke to mahbx.com Radio about the team's fight back from the controversy of 2007, and the honour of being thಌe first person to get behind the wheel 🐎of its new MP4-23 challenger out on-track...

Q:
Pedro, how excited are you as we look to 2008, and how good a year do you think it𝓀 will be for McLaren?

Pedro de la Rosa:
It's early days really - we're so far away from where we want to be and we have so much work in front of us. As a test-driver and someone who has already driven seven McLaren-Mercedes', I know there's a lot still to come. I prefer to be cautious and do𒉰 the best job possible, but we are keeping our feet on the ground.

Q:
You were🎐 the first driver to drive the new car in Jerez; how much of an honour was that for you?

PdlR:
It was a pretty special feature, especially because I've been in the team since 2003 and this was the eighth McLaren-Mercedes car I have driven. It's quite something, when you th🔴ink that I was the first one and that the team trusted me so much to give me tꦑhat chance.

Q:
McLaren had a tough year off the track in 2007; how easily do you think the team will be able to bounce ba💎ck from that in 2008?

PdlR:
We just have do work, keep our heads down and not change. I think the key is to just be ourselves; we are a very strong group, the engineering side of McLaren is very strong and we just have to sta𓄧y together. What we have achieved already ༒is very, very good; we just need one step more.

Q:
Talking of hard work, has there been much rest within the team over the winter period, or has it remained flat-out since last season finiܫshed?

PdlR:
For a driver it's always eas🗹ier; the winter is a period when you have time 🔥for a break, especially over Christmas. For the team back in Woking, Stuttgart and Brixworth, they have been flat-out all winter. It's the same for everyone. For us [drivers], though, we have an easy life during the winter; we can take a break whilst the engineers, mechanics and a lot of the people in the factory don't have that luxury.

Q:
On the subject of drivers, Heikki Kovalainen has obviously joined M🏅cLaren this year. What has he brought to the team so far?

PdlR:
I don't know yet - I need to start working with him. He's a new team member and I will work closely with him, learn from him and start from there. It's early days - I'll know more in a few months' time 💙-🦹 but he will have all my help.

Q:
Finally, how tough a battle do you think it will be with Ferrari🐼 again this year, and are 🙈there any other teams that can maybe get in the mix too, like Renault or BMW?

PdlR:
I'm sure it's not going to be a head-to-head between two teams; it'💛s going to be a more open championship, and the competition from many teams will be fierce. We just have to be aware of that and not be over-co𒀰nfident.