Trulli happy the waiting is over

Jarno Trulli says he is happy that the waiting is finally over for his 2002 plans to be announced after the confirmation of his move to the Benetton team on Thursday

Trulli has been at the centre of driver movement rumours for the last month, but it was finally announced early on Thursday morning that the Italian will drive for the Renault-owned Benetton outfit in 2002. Fellow countryman Giancarlo Fisichella will move in the opposite direction to take Trulli's vacant seat at Jordan.

Insiders suggest that after Benetton's troubled season this year, Trulli would have preferred to stick with Jordan for another year before switching to Benetton for 2003.

However, Renault has decided to exercise its option on Trulli, who is managed by Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore, and the 27-year-old says he is just pleased to have everything out in the open.

"I'm just happy that it was announced," Trulli told Autosport.com. "I'm happy with the length of the deal and I'm just glad it's all done because I've been waiting for such a long time."

Renault has signed Trulli on a one-year contract with an option for a subsequent one or two more years after that. Renault was keen to get the Jordan ace on a long term deal as it puts its name to the Benetton outfit next year and continues to develop its wide-angled V10.

A spokesman for the French car manufacturer said: "Everyone wanted a long term deal, both on Renault's side and on the driver's side."