Herbert to Leave F1 at End of Season

Veteran British driver Johnny Herbert said on Wednesday he would leave Formula One at the end of this season and wanted to switch to the U.S.-based CART championship.

"I decided that I will go to the American CART series next year," Herbert, 36, told a news conference in Frankfurt. "Obviously I've got to sign a contract for a drive but that's what I want to do next year."

Herbert, whose place in the Jaguar team has been rumoured to be under pressure, said he had talked to several U.S. teams.

"We will know what is going on probably within the next month," he said.

Jaguar's director of international affairs, Colin Cook, told the news conference: "It's too early to speculate on who will be the second driver next season."

"Not me," added Herbert, who was in Frankfurt with his Jaguar teammate Eddie Irvine on promotional duty ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix at the Hockenheim circuit.

With Herbert having struggled to make an impact this season, Briton Dario Franchitti has been seen as a possible replacement at Jaguar and had his first test with the team earlier this month.

Herbert, a popular driver from Essex, east of London, worked hard to make his way back into Formula One after a career-threatening crash in 1988.

He suffered severe foot injuries in a crash at Brands Hatch on the day he signed for Benetton for the 1989 season. He was dropped when it became clear his injuries had not fully healed and returned with Lotus full time in 1991.

Herbert joined Benetton in 1994, moved to Sauber in 1996, then Stewart last season before Stewart was renamed Jaguar.

His three Formula One career wins include the British Grand Prix with Benetton in 1995 and the European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring last year, Stewart's first and only win. His best season was 1995, when he finished fourth overall.

Asked how long he wanted to race in the CART championship, Herbert replied: "I'll always race as long as I enjoy it."

Several top drivers, notably Britain's former world champion Nigel Mansell, have gone from Formula One to race in CART.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, currently with BAR, made his name in CART before joining Formula One.

The series will make its debut on ovals in Europe in 2001 with races in Britain and Germany.