Design ace Brunner quits Minardi for Toyota

The 50-year-old Austrian has joined the Cologne-based Toyota Motorsport team as chief designer. The move comes a matter of days after the Japanese marque's technical director Andre de Cortanze left the project.

"We are extremely pleased that Gustav has agreed to head up our design team," said Toyota Motorsport GmbH president Ove Andersson. "He brings to us extensive Formula 1 experience, working for over 20 years with various teams. Having covered just about every technical aspect of Formula 1, he is a guy who can contribute significantly to our project."

Brunner said he was sorry to leave Minardi, just as the team was humbling the likes of Benetton-Renault at race weekends with its star driver Fernando Alonso.

"I feel a little pain leaving my existing team," said Brunner. "But this is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed. To join Toyota from the start of their project is fantastic. From what I have seen so far, TMG has a good team of people and all the facilities to really push forward the positive development. I'm looking forward to what will be a busy, but very exciting time ahead."

Brunner started his F1 career with ATS in 1978, before going on to work with Arrows, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, RAM, Leyton House and March. Minardi had employed him since 1998.