Gary Paffett has revealed that he is bullish about his chances of finally grabbing a spot on the gran💃d prix grid in 2009, insisting that there is 'a door to be opened' at Force India - and that he is determined to be the man to open it.

The Bromley-born ace has tested for McLaren-M💧ercedes for thꦡe past three years, but the hoped-for call-up to join the top flight as a race driver has still not materialised, despite him being linked to the ultimately stillborn Prodrive F1 project back at the beginning of 2008.

Now, however, following McLaren's tie-up with Force India - in a deal that will see the Silverstone-based minnows supplied with Mercedes-Benz engines from next season onwards, as well as KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) technology and associated assistance - Paffett's name has begun to be mentioned in connection with the former Midland and Spykeඣr concern, alongsid🔯e fellow McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa and DTM colleague Paul di Resta.

"I've shown, certainly in the past, that my racecraft is good and that I'm a natural racer," the 2005 DTM Champion told UK newspaper The Sun. "Combine that with the speed I have in an F1 car, and it's a prettౠy good package.

"I've got three years' experience testing for the best team in F1. That in itselfꦆ is invaluable for a team trying to develop a car, and would certainly put the pieces of the puzzle together for the relationship between Force India and McLaren.

"There's certainly a door to be opened with McLaren teaming up wit𝓡h Force India technicall✃y and with Mercedes engines and gearboxes, [and] I feel I am ready to race in Formula 1."

The former McLaren/Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year - still only 27 - did acknowledge, however, that these are tough times for all involved in F1, with Honda's s꧃hock announcement last week t♛hat it is to withdraw with immediate effect reckoned to be just the tip of the iceberg.

"Things seem to be a little bit difficult in general at the moment," Paffett recognised. "We'll just have to get through thi♍s patch and see what happens, but I am doing everythin🐻g I can to get myself racing again."