Da Matta signs two-year Toyota deal
The Toyota Formula 1 team has announced one of the worst-kept secrets in the sport this season - that CART champion Cristiano da Matta will partner Olivier Panis at the team next year
The Brazilian, whose Newman-Haas Champ Car team is powered by the Japanese giant, has signed a two year contract to race in F1.
Da Matta, 29, had been first tipped to make the switch after impressing Toyota in his maiden F1 test with the team at Paul Ricard in May.
"I have accomplished one of my goals by winning the CART driver's championship title," he said. "I am very thankful to Carl Haas, Paul Newman and all of Newman-Haas Racing for the support, hard work and accomplishments that we have achieved together. Now I am ready for the next challenge.
"It is great to be able to join Panasonic Toyota Racing and more importantly to further develop my already successful partnership with Toyota. To be able to combine this with driving in F1 - the top motorsport series in the world - is very special to me and I look forward to the exciting and demanding challenges that lie ahead."
Toyota Motorsport chairman Tsutomu Tomita said: "I am very pleased that Cristiano is joining Panasonic Toyota Racing. He joined Toyota at the start of his career in the CART programme and has shown his tremendous dedication and efforts by helping us to develop together to win the championship with Newman-Haas Racing this season.
"His long-term partnership with Toyota and his natural driving talent will prove an essential asset to us as our F1 programme enters an exciting new stage of development."
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