JULY 15, 2004

Toyota already justifying Schumacher signing

Toyota Motorsport president John Howett says he believes that Ralf Schumacher is the right man for the team.

"What Ralf does need is a fresh start and that, while he has done a lot for Williams while he has been there," said Howett. "He sees Toyota as a potentially emerging team and there is a risk probably because we are not a top team yet. But he is prepared to take that risk so we decided that it was a sensible deal for both parties. We are gradually putting the team together. I think we felt we needed a racing driver who had potential to race it. We looked at the marketplace and we really felt, of the available drivers who could be a championship contender if we give him the car, Ralf was the best choice. Ralf has proved to be as quick as Montoya, if not quicker and as a total package, we think he is probably better."

Howett says that no decisions have been made about the second car, despite rumours that Jarno Trulli is close to a deal and that David Coulthard might be in the picture.

"We are at the moment debating internally what we should do," he said.