Jarno Trulli’s position at the Toyota team for 2008 is no longer in serious doubt, according to reports.
It had earlier been suggested that the Italian, despite having a contract to stay at the Japanese team next year, might have been lining up a test for Force India this winter as a back-up plan.
Cologne based Toyota has signed a contract with Timo Glock for 2008, and was reportedly campaigning hard to woo the newly-available Fernando Alonso.
“I’m not sure we’re yet ready to offer Fernando the sort of package he’s looking for,” The Guardian newspaper last week quoted Toyota team president John Howett as saying.
But with Glock’s seat now in doubt due to the Contract Recognition Board spat with BMW, and Alonso reportedly ruling out driving for Toyota in 2008, 33-year-old Trulli is surely now guaranteed his drive, the Spanish newspaper Diario AS said.
‘AS’ claimed that Trulli had indeed organised an upcoming Force India test, as have beleaguered drivers Ralf Schumacher and Vitantonio Liuzzi.
But with Alonso out of the frame and Glock now uncertain, Toyota “needs the Italian’s experience” to cope with the challenge of 2008, the newspaper said.
