McLaren Confirm Montoya for 2005

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya will drive for the McLaren Mercedes team in 2005, the Woking-based outfit announced on Monday.

"I am thrilled to be joining West McLaren Mercedes," said Montoya. "The team is consistently a strong World Championship contender and has a fantastic heritage. It's a great opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to the first time I will be able to drive one of their cars.

"To join them is an amazing challenge and experience which I plan to fully enjoy. However, my short term aim is to concentrate 100 percent on winning the 2004 World Championship."

The Colombian has a contract with the Williams team until the end of the 2004 season, having joined them at the start of 2001. 28-year old Montoya finished the 2003 World Championship in third position, having scored two wins and 82 points.

McLaren said they will confirm the full 2005 driver line-up at a later date, while Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard will drive for them in 2004.

"We want to win races and World Championships, and in order to do so we have to plan for the future whilst applying every effort in the short term," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis. "The opportunity to sign a talent like Juan Pablo was too good to miss, and there is already a considerable amount of anticipation within our team about 2005.

"Juan Pablo has achieved a considerable amount of success in his career and we are certain that he will add to this with West McLaren Mercedes. We are certainly looking forward to seeing what he can do in one of our cars and I believe that it's a prospect that can't fail to excite Formula One fans around the world.

"However until that happens we will be focusing all efforts on our 2004 Championship challenge."