Olivier Panis has joined the McLaren Formula One team for next season as their third driver. The 33-year-old Frenchman gained just two world championship points last season for the Prost team but will become an integral part of McLaren's bid for the 2000 title.

"We have decided that we require a third driver in the Formula One programme to meet the demands of our intensive test schedule," said Martin Whitmarsh, managing director of McLaren International.

"Olivier has already impressed us in the car and with his desire to take over this role and we are confident that his contribution will be significant."

Panis said: "Joining McLaren is an exciting challenge for me and I am looking forward to helping develop the team's new car."

Panis made his Formula One debut in the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix for Ligier.

When asked what his final message to Prost would be, Panis said: "In a world like Formula One, where technology is so important, Alain needs to remember that there is still a human element." [SBX]

Boxing: Billy Schwer's brave bid to win the WBC lightweight title ended in a bloody defeat at the blurring fists of America's Stevie Johnston at Wembley Arena last night.

Schwer made it to the final bell but was comprehensively outscored on the biggest night of his fighting life.

Johnston's supremacy was properly mirrored in the scores of the three judges, who all gave the verdict 118-110 to the tiny man from Colorado.