gavriil

Toyota signs three-year deal with Ralf Schumacher - - Posted by: kak on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 12:15 PM CET - -Source: kak.net


Panasonic Toyota Racing has today confirmed that it has signed a three-year contract with Ralf Schumacher to be a race driver for the team from the 2005 season.

Panasonic Toyota Racing Team Principal Tsutomu Tomita said of the announcement: "It is with pleasure that we can announce Ralf as one of Toyota's race drivers for the 2005 season. He has proven himself to be an extremely quick racing driver in his career, and I am sure that his vast experience will be extremely beneficial to our team. We have not finalised who will partner Ralf in 2005, and this is something we are in no rush to decide on. We are happy with the job that Cristiano and Olivier are doing for us and both of them are under consideration for the remaining race seat next season. There are still 8 races of the season to go and everyone at Toyota is fully focussed on improving our level of performance to gain as many championship points as we can."

Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis will continue to race for Toyota in the remaining events of the 2004 season with Ricardo Zonta as third driver and Ryan Briscoe as test driver.

The team will make a decision on the remaining race seat towards the end of the season. In the meantime, Toyota will not comment on any speculation or rumours surrounding the remaining race seat until all contractual issues have been finalised.

Further to media enquiries on today's announcement that Toyota has signed a three-year contract with Ralf Schumacher from the 2005 season, please find below three short Q+A with Team Principal of Panasonic Toyota Racing, Tsutomu Tomita.

What will happen to Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta?
Tsutomu Tomita: "Toyota is pleased with the efforts of Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta since they joined the team in 2003 and both are under consideration for the remaining race seat in 2005."

When will Ralf Schumacher join the team?
Tomita: "Toyota has signed Ralf on a three-year deal fully effective from 1 January 2005. We do not know yet when his first run in a Toyota will be, but we hope to get him testing as soon as possible after the GP of Brazil. We will be able to use him for PR and promotional activities from 1 January 2005."

How much is Toyota paying Ralf Schumacher?
Tomita: "Whilst we cannot divulge any specific contract details, we have negotiated a reasonable deal. As usually happens regarding Formula 1 budget figures, the amount of money reported by the media is largely overestimated. The rumours about the contract between Toyota and Ralf Schumacher are not an exception."

gavriil

I am guessing Panis is in and DaMatta is out.

Chief F1 Fan

I'm guessing Panis and DaMatta are both out. Toyota shoots from the hip, these guys are gone.

AQUI NO!

they are probably both gone by the end of the season.

Starter

What Chief said.

Zapata

Is JPM still going to mclaren?

gavriil

I am starting to doubt JPM's driving abilities lately.

Chief F1 Fan

Yeah JPM's gone and Webber will sign w/ Williams-announcement by the end of this weekend.

Red Rider

JPM in that new McLaren

Williams is in deep DOO DOO.

If Webber ends up at Williams as it looks, who else can Toyota grab that's better than Panis or DaMatta ? Coulthart maybe but he's probably off to Jag, Trulli, Fisechella ?? Personally, i'd stick with DaMatta

Red Rider

Actually, i think he's doing extremely well with that mess at Williams !! New McLaren chassis plus JPM could be amazing

Zapata

williams has been very inconsistant over the past three years.

Chief F1 Fan

Williams should put Anthony Davidson in one of their cars or better yet DC, at least he's won races and knows how to win vs. DaMatta, Baumgartner, etc. Even Fisi, he's one of the best qualifiers on the grid given what he's driving and he should get his due. Unfortunately for him, he's blinded by the hope of being a Ferrari driver someday and it will be after he's thrown a few good chances away first before he realizes it's too late.

Red Rider

During the race on Sunday they hinted that Fisi could be at Williams. He might as well realize it's never gonna happen at Ferrari, MS will probably stick around and try and win 100 !!

Chief F1 Fan

Right after I wrote the above comment I went to ITV-F1 and there's a post saying Fisi is high on Williams' wish list.