Trulli to race in Japan

Jarno Trulli will drive for Toyota in the final two grands prix of the season after being sacked by Renault.

17:18 01 October 2004

Jarno Trulli will drive for Toyota in the final two grands prix of the season after being sacked by Renault.

The Italian, who won the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this year, was released by Renault after agreeing to drive for the Japanese team next year.

He will now take the place of Brazilian Ricardo Zonta in Japan next weekend and will replace Olivier Panis for the final race of the season on Zonta's home track a week later.

"It will be nice for me to be back in Japan because I have a lot of Japanese supporters and I'm sure they will give me a huge welcome," Trulli said.

"I am thankful to Olivier and Ricardo for making this possible. The Japanese Grand Prix weekend will help me put together a general impression of how things work at Toyota.

"Overall the experience will give me a head start with some input to the way I have to work over the winter."

Panis, who is the longest-serving driver on the circuit, will retire at the end of the season and will now see the curtain come down on his career one race earlier than initially planned.

But the Frenchman seems happy with the situation and is looking forward to working with the team in a non-driving capacity next year.

"I understand how important it is for the team to start working with Jarno as soon as possible," Panis said.

"This means that the Japanese Grand Prix will be my last Formula One race, but I look forward to the work which lies ahead of us in the next two years."