Formula 1 News

Toyota confirms agreement with Glock even if BMW disagrees 

Toyota confirmed that it has signed a contract with Timo Glock and wants the newly crowned GP2 champion to race for the Japanese team next season. It has emerged that the 25 year old German’s future is currently in the hands of the Contract Recognition Board (CRB), because his newly-lodged, and unannounced, Toyota contract supposedly clashes with his BMW test driving deal.

While BMW Sauber cannot offer Glock a race seat next year, the Hinwil-based team is reportedly not keen to release him because Toyota wants to lock him into a three-year contract. “We were informed by the CRB that a conflicting contract was filed,” BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen recently confirmed. “We will wait for their decision.”

Glock’s manager, Hans-Bernd Kamps, added: “In the interests of Timo, we are hoping for a reasonable solution as quickly as possible.”

It is reported that the CRB is presently sitting in Geneva to rule on the conflict. A decision is not expected to be known until next week.

Cologne based Toyota President John Howett said: “We have a binding agreement with Glock. “His management company and the lawyers believe that he is available,” the Briton told Motorsport Aktuell.

In August BMW Sauber announced both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica would remain with the team in 2008, but stated: ‘with regard to signing a test and reserve driver, an announcement will be made at a later stage.’

source: GMM