Panis who won the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix driving a Ligier is pursuing new racing challenges outside Formula One.
In a statement issued by Toyota Racing, Olivier Panis said:
Panasonic Toyota Racing Team Principal, Tsutomu Tomita, 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. I am looking forward to new racing challenges outside Formula 1 but I will keep a close eye on Toyota's performance and hope they achieve all the success they deserve.
With Panis retiring and Zonta moving to Renault, Toyota are expected to finalise a deal with Franck Montagny for a testing role as well as promoting one of the drivers participating in the Toyota Young Drivers Programme.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. 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.
