Ralf Schumacher to Join Toyota F1 Team

Toyota signs three-year deal with Ralf Schumacher
Wednesday 7 July 2004

Panasonic Toyota Racing has today confirmed that it has signed a three-year
contract with Ralf Schumacher to be a race driver for the team from the
2005 season.

Panasonic Toyota Racing Team Principal Tsutomu Tomita said of the
announcement: “It is with pleasure that we can announce Ralf as one of
Toyota’s race drivers for the 2005 season. He has proven himself to be an
extremely quick racing driver in his career, and I am sure that his vast
experience will be extremely beneficial to our team. We have not finalised
who will partner Ralf in 2005, and this is something we are in no rush to
decide on. We are happy with the job that Cristiano and Olivier are doing
for us and both of them are under consideration for the remaining race seat
next season. There are still 8 races of the season to go and everyone at
Toyota is fully focussed on improving our level of performance to gain as
many championship points as we can.”

Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis will continue to race for Toyota in
the remaining events of the 2004 season with Ricardo Zonta as third driver
and Ryan Briscoe as test driver.

The team will make a decision on the remaining race seat towards the end of
the season. In the meantime, Toyota will not comment on any speculation or
rumours surrounding the remaining race seat until all contractual issues
have been finalised.