source: grandprix.com
There are
whispers that Toyota Formula 1 test driver Ricardo Zonta wants to get back into
competitive racing and is trying to put together a deal to take part in the last
four Champ Car races this year in Miami, Mexico City, Surfers Paradise and
Fontana. The 27-year-old from Curitiba has been out of the spotlight since the
end of 2000 when he was dropped by BAR. He was the Jordan test driver in 2001
and then moved to the Telefonica World Series in 2002 and won the title, earning
himself the job of Toyota test driver this year.
Once hailed as a great rising star, Zonta won the 1997 European Formula 3000
title after a season-long battle with Juan Pablo Montoya and was signed by
McLaren to do development work, being placed in BAR by McLaren in 1999. In
Brazil he suffered a big accident when something broke on his car and he missed
several races because of a broken ankle but gradually became competitive with
Jacques Villeneuve when he returned to the team.