03/12/2010
NEWS STORY
Timo Glock has confirmed that he is staying with Virgin Racing in 2011.
In an interview for the British team's website, the German, when asked about his plans for next season, said: "I am definitely driving for Virgin Racing.
"There has been a lot of speculation about me wanting to leave the team," he continues, "but it is not about leaving a team, it is about wanting to do better and keep moving forward. It is not just 99.9% certain that I will stay, as has been reported - it is 100% certain that I am staying!
"Since the beginning I have had a long-term contract with the team and I said then that I was doing this to help build a team for the future. It would not be possible to do that in one year from nothing. Plus I think with everything we have learned this year we can take a very good step up next season. This is a great team of people who have given blood, sweat and tears to our first season. Some people haven't seen that with their own eyes, like I have, so it's easy to criticise or be cynical."
Asked to describe the British outfit's maiden season, the German said: "Extremely challenging and very hard work - for the whole team.
"2010 was a tough test for us all, but we survived and it was ultimately very rewarding for me," he added. "There were frustrations along the way and when things don't go well, as a driver who is ambitious, I admit it was sometimes difficult, but I joined Virgin Racing knowing there would be difficult times ahead so it wasn't really a surprise to me. We were building something from zero - no team, no factory, no previous year's car to develop from and no data. Everything we have we have built ourselves in the space of less than a year. We should also remember that we were also taking a pretty revolutionary design approach to the VR-01. If you look at our season from that perspective, we have achieved something pretty incredible."
Asked who his teammate might be, the 2007 GP2 champion was giving little away.
"Well, I am already confirmed so there is nothing new to announce about me. But I understand that the team wants to announce the line-up together when the second seat is confirmed.
"I think it is right to take our time and make sure we have the best combination of youth and experience, plus make sure we have the best information going back into the team at testing and races to ensure we can develop as quickly as we want to and keep moving forward. I don't think we will have to wait too much longer for that news - hopefully before Christmas!"