Wednesday March 29th, 2000

Jaguar's Eddie Irvine, describing himself as the "Edith Piaf of the pit lane", says he will leave Formula One with no regrets and does not expect to stay involved in the sport after he retires.

"I reckon that when I finish driving I will no longer be involved with F1," the Briton, title runner-up last season with Ferrari, was quoted on Wednesday as saying on his team's official website (www.jaguar-racing.com).

"Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and I love the sport," said the 34-year-old whose party lifestyle and interests away from the track are well-documented. "But when I am past driving there are so many other things to do in the world.

Irvine, one of the senior drivers on the circuit, said that, like French singer Piaf and her famous song, he had no regrets.

"I am the Edith Piaf of the pit lane. Non, je ne regrette rien," declared Irvine.

The Northern Irishman has crashed in both of his races for Jaguar so far this season.