Formula One news

Panis backs Montagny for Toyota role

After four years with Toyota, 40-year-old Olivier Panis remains in the Toyota family as a result of his Trophee Andros ice racing career and he is sure Montagny will also thrive as a Toyota driver. Not only that, he has tipped Montagny to follow in his own footsteps and make a valuable contribution to the team's development.

"I have watched Franck racing and he is a very fast driver and I also saw him test for Toyota at Silverstone and Jerez last year and I was impressed," Panis recalls. "I think it is a good move for him to join Toyota because it is a big team and has a lot of potential.

"I think he will work well with the team. They are all very professional and hard working and from what I have seen Franck is the same. He is a nice guy and we always get on well together whenever we see each other.

"It is good that a Frenchman is coming into the team, I am pleased about that. It has been hard for French drivers in Formula 1 in recent years but Franck has a lot of experience now of testing in Formula 1 and I am sure he will do a very good job for Toyota."

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