Toyota confirm multi year deal with Timo Glock 

Written by David on November 19th, 2007 at 1:19 pmLast Update: November 19th, 2007 at 1:19 pm

Timo GlockEarlier this morning, Toyota F1 Racing, confirmed that the German GP2 Champion Timo Glock will race for the Japanese team in 2008 season. Glock, has signed a multi year contract and the team is hoping to reach an agreement with BMW-Sauber, in order to allow him to test at Jerez on December. Toyota’s Chairman and Team Principal, Tadashi Yamashina, declared: “It is with great pleasure that we confirm Timo Glock will race for Panasonic Toyota Racing in 2008…

“I am convinced Timo has the potential to help this team move forward and achieve its aims. Timo has great experience of motorsport in several different categories and he reinforced his reputation by winning the highly competitive GP2 Series, which we have already seen is fantastic preparation for Formula 1. He has demonstrated a fighting spirit and good race craft in GP2 so we believe he is the right man for the job.”

Timo Glock: “It’s a great feeling to be a F1 race driver again and I am really looking forward to this new challenge. I have worked hard over the past few years to get this opportunity and I must say I am grateful to Panasonic Toyota Racing for having faith in me. From what I have seen of the team at the track I am confident we will be able to work well together to move forward. Even though I have not raced in Formula One since 2004, I have tested quite regularly so I expect it will take very little time for me to get back in the groove. I have been lucky enough to race and succeed in several different championships in my career but my goal has always been to become a full-time Formula One race driver. I believe this experience has made me stronger as a driver and as a person. Of course, to return to Formula One racing as GP2 Series champion is a real honour and we’ve all seen how well Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have performed as champions so that is very encouraging. I hope I can also make a strong impression next season. Now I have achieved my goal of returning to F1, my next target is to work towards making 2008 a successful season for myself and Panasonic Toyota Racing.”

After just two years of kart racing, Timo Glock, stepped up to single seaters and enjoyed an impressive rise through the ranks to Formula 1, via ADAC Formula BMW and Formula 3. At just 22 he was a Grand Prix racer with an unexpected Jordan debut in Canada in 2004, where he joined an exclusive list of drivers to score points in their first race, thanks to his 7th place. Three more races followed at the end of the season before a switch to the Champ Car Series for 2005, where Glock marked himself out as a rising star by taking Rookie of the Year honors, with a best finish of second.

However, the temptation to race in Formula One was too great and he decided to return to prove his abilities in GP2. That looked a wise move this year when he came out on top of a tough battle for the title.

No comments yet. Be the first.


Leave a Reply