Toyota Confirm Engines for Jordan in 2006

The announcements came as no surprise, as Toyota had already revealed earlier this month that it was committed to Jordan for the next season, although a final agreement had not been signed until now.

Colin Kolles, Jordan Managing Director, said: "The co-operation with Toyota was a key element for Jordan Grand Prix in the 2005 season and I am personally delighted to carry on this excellent collaboration.  With Toyota's commitment to our Team, they have also done the magnanimous thing for the sport by putting Formula One above their own exclusivity.

"As we are in the middle of a transition year with difficult odds, the exceptional Toyota engine reliability record is essential for Jordan to gather crucial data to be used for the development of the 2006 car and at the same time I hope we can help Toyota in the battle for World Championship honours."

Toyota will provide Jordan with V8 engines, which the Japanese outfit said was in advance stages of development.

"We are very pleased that Jordan Grand Prix and Midland have opted to renew the one-year contract," Toyota Motorsport chairman Tsutomu Tomita said. "It has always been a priority for Toyota to support the independent teams in Formula One, so we are happy to be in a position to continue this successful collaboration with the team for 2006.

"We are in an advanced stage of our V8 engine programme for next season and by finalising this new one-year deal with Jordan Grand Prix and Midland for 2006 at an early stage we will be able to accelerate development."

Toyota are widely expected to drop Jordan at the end of 2006 and begin providing engines to Williams.

Jordan are currently ninth in the Constructors' Championship, with Tiago Monteiro finishing on the podium at the United States Grand Prix, where only the six Bridgestone-shod teams competed.

Monteiro also now holds the record as the rookie with the highest number of race finishes since his debut: the Portuguese has finished all 12 races since the beginning of the year.