Zonta 'glad to be back in F1'

Zonta, last year's Dallara Nissan World Series champion, will be Toyota's reserve driver this year and will substitute for race drivers Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta should anything untoward occur. Speaking at the AUTOSPORT International show in Birmingham, Zonta said it is good to be back.

"I'm very happy to be Toyota's test driver, I'm glad to be back in F1," he said. "I have a very big test schedule with the team, which starts in Paul Ricard next week, and I am reserve driver as well, so I am going to all the grands prix. My main aim is to work hard and make a better car for the guys to race."

Zonta believes that the new sporting regulations for 2003, including one-lap qualifying, will place more responsibility on the test driver's shoulders than ever.

"It is very important for me to do some [low fuel tanks] rapid testing and make sure the car is well prepared for one-lap qualifying," he said. "I am going to be very busy this year, which leaves no time for racing elsewhere."