Glock to replace Ralf Schumacher

Cologne:

Timo Glock will replace Ralf Schumacher as one of Toyota's Formula One drivers.

The 25-year-old German, who won the GP2 Series title this season, signed a multiyear contract, Toyota said on Monday without giving details.

"I am convinced Timo has the potential to help this team move forward and achieve its aims," team chief Tadashi Yamashina said.

Glock comes from BMW-Sauber, where he had been a test driver. He drove in four F1 races in 2004 while at Jordan.

"It's a great feeling to be a Formula One race driver again and I am really looking forward to this new challenge," Glock said. "Even though I have not raced in Formula One since 2004, I have tested quite regularly so I expect it will take very little time for me to get back in the groove."

Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of retired seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, left the team at the end of the season. His future is uncertain. Schumacher drove for Toyota for three years and never won a race.

"Timo has great experience of motor sport in several different categories and he reinforced his reputation by winning the highly competitive GP2 Series, which we have already seen is fantastic preparation for Formula One," Yamashina said.

"He has demonstrated a fighting spirit and good race craft in GP2, so we believe he is the right man for the job."

Lewis Hamilton, who nearly won last season's F1 championship in his first season with McLaren, also came through the GP2 Series.