Oliver Panis 'Retires'

By Luke Marc Carlile-Stanton
September 18 2006

Today it was announced that Frenchman Olivier Panis would leave the Toyota F1 team operation and therefore he has called a time on a 12 year Formula 1 career which included a win for the Liger team at Monaco in 1996.

Panis raced for Toyota in years of 2003 and 2004 before retiring from racing as Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher came into the team. Since then Olivier has been the teams test driver alongside Ricardo Zonta, who himself leaves the team at the end of the year to partner Nelson Piquet JNR at the Renault test team for next season. Olivier has been linked to joining Peugeot in 2007 for it's two car assault on Le Mans.

Olivier said:

"Toyota has made much progress and I am happy to have been a part of this. The team was always very motivated and still is. I am really positive about the job the whole team has done and will miss everyone I have worked with, yet I know that it is time for me to move on and fulfil my wish to race again.''

He added; “I am looking forward to new racing challenges outside Formula One but I will keep a close eye on Toyota's performance and hope they achieve all the success they deserve."

Toyota wished Panis well and the best of luck for the future. Team Principal, Tsutomu Tomita commented:

''We are very thankful to Olivier for the high level of commitment he put into working with the whole team all along our four years of collaboration. His technical experience and human qualities greatly contributed to our team development as much as to the improvement of its overall performance.”

Tomita continued: “We understand and accept his desire to continue racing. We thank him for sharing his know-how and will support him in whatever he chooses to do."

The rumour mill is currently suggesting that Super Aguri 3rd driver and fellow Frenchman Franck Montagny will be announced by Toyota in the coming weeks as the teams official 3rd and test driver.

From all at TotallyToyota F1 we wish Olivier the best of luck for the future.