Glock joins Manor GP team

Timo Glock will drive for the new Manor GP team in the next Formula One season.

The German driver agreed to a two-year contract today, with another season as an option, according to Glock's manager, Hans-Bernd Wersauer.

Glock drove for Toyota the past two seasons but the Japanese automaker has announced it is quitting F1. Glock missed the last three races of the 2009 season following a crash in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

"With a year left on the Toyota contract, we originally had other plans and were aiming to really compete for the world championship with the team. Now, for obvious reasons, that is not going to happen," Glock said on his Web site. "Ahead of me now is a great challenge."

Manor GP is one of three new teams on 2010's racing grid after having been prominent in the junior series.

"It might seem like a brave step. But there are many good reasons to join this team," the 27-year-old German driver said. "For me as a driver, for example, it was important that I was assured I would be involved in the development of the team and the car."