RALF TO TOYOTA

[kiko01 0]

OFFICIAL - RALF SIGNS FOR TOYOTA

Last Updated: Wednesday, 07, July, 2004, 11:52

Ralf Schumacher has signed a three-year deal with Toyota, the team has announced.

The German is currently convalescing after suffering two fractured vertebrae in an accident in the US Grand Prix.

But that has not discouraged Toyota, who have now confirmed the worst-kept secret in the F1 paddock.

Team boss Tsutomu Tomita said: "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 (da Matta) and Olivier (Panis) are doing for us and both of them are under consideration for the remaining race seat next season."

Poor Toyota :cry: This year is going to be a lot of movement... Two sits in Williams (two? maybe MW is allready signed), two in Jaguar, probably another one in Toyota and Sauber and maybe one more in Renault.

I know it

[Taku 0]

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!! :shock:

*pop the champagne and cue that madonna track --> celebrate:

sell e brate!! dadada da dara. . . holl i day!

Everybody spread the word

We're gonna have a celebration

All across the world

In every nation

It's time for the good times

Forget about the bad times, oh yeah

One day to come together

To release the pressure

We need a holiday

now everybody in f1 sing the chorus:

Holiday Celebrate

Holiday Celebrate

btw i got the lyrics from google so no i'm not a closet madonna fan! :oops:

EDIT: that moment of craziness was due to getting home from work at 1am with no dinner and cracking open a becks to sit in front of the computer and log in to find the "surprise" announcement. ..

[AutoRacer5 0]

classic...I'd do the same thing with how to find the lyrics.

[amjay 0]

toyota has been in F1 for like wat 2 years now ... they havent done tht well or should i say not well at all considerin their budget... and now they sign ralph ...it almost seem like they are planning to fail hihi ... nah ralph is not tht bad a driver... he has had a few good races (and a lot of bad ones as well) and won a couple so he in a way he is a proven driver who can perform if given the PERFECT settings... anyway hope he recovers well and good luck to him and toyota ....

[C.A.L. 0]

Finally , Ralf is off my team ! Toyota should soooo pleased with themselves ...... ....now whom will their second (better!)driver be?

[Senna 0]

This is hardly unexpected news but it just confirms my belief that Toyota has poor management

[AutoRacer5 0]

let's see: 03: taken out by injury, out for one race

04: taken out by injury, out for many races

05: who knows?

[webber 0]

lets just hope that all the other teames now follow in Toyotas foot prints and start to say who that have singed.

[Taku 0]

yes i too hope we can see some clarity and maybe some revelations in the driver market now that toyota have annouced what is bound to be a doomed doomed marriage to ralfie.

[Senna 0]

Not knowing who is going where creates uncertainty and this is good but a little annoying at times

[nojvnof1 0]

try being a Villeneuve fan over these past few weeks!!! :x talk about emotional rollercoaster!!!

[Taku 0]

yes, just a little..

[Senna 0]

Don

[nojvnof1 0]

I'd rather he stay retired that go to Sauber. Toyota looks like a very interesting prospect. I read on a website that FW will indeed buy out MW's contract and he'll race for them from Hungary, thus giving him a few races against JPM. Don't know the validity of this, but I wouldn't be surprised, but he would owe Jag a $hitload of cash if this is true.

[bmw_girl 0]

Ralf's move to Toyota to me was disturbing partly because I didn't catch up with news and speculations about his movement on the net and also partly because I'm relatively new to the world of F1 racing and when I started following it in 2001, I was drawn to BMW Williams and with its line-up of Ralf and Juan.

From the first day I followed the sports, I felt that Juan's place in BMW was not going to last. Don't ask me why but that's the feeling I had about Juan. But with Ralf, I felt that the combination was right and now, he's moving to Toyota.

Some people support the team while others support a driver.

I supported Williams + Ralf i.e. both at the same time!

4 years of ardent support for BMW + Ralf and suddenly I have to decide on either BMW or Ralf.

Argh! Help!

[C.A.L. 0]

I think Ralf has been at Williams for now 6 years ... yes ?

Thats a win a year ! I am so glad he is gone and that someone else or two will run in the Williams next year or even the last part of the season.

[webber 0]

go for BMW/Williams BMW-girl because then you will ahve to change you name and Williams willcome back next year wile R$ wil have to wate unitl Toyota get up to speed.

[bmw_girl 0]

thanks webber.

sadly, that seems like the wise decision i will take. stick to bmw and at the same time, keep an eye on how RS is progressing.

thanks.....