Bourdais put in some consistent performances in his testing outings with STR this year. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos
With a brief announcement deprived of the team's usual irony, Scuderia Toro Rosso confirmed Sebastien Bourdais' lifelong dream: the Frenchman will have a full-time Formula 1 ride in 2008.
The triple Champ Car champion, currently battling for a fourth Vanderbilt Cup, will be released by his Newman/Haas/Lanigan team by the end of this season.
"It has been a long time coming, but here we are!" the 28-year-old stated. "I would like to thank everyone at Red Bull for believing in me and giving me this long-awaited opportunity to race in Formula 1. I must also thank Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing for letting me pursue my dream and allowing me to test for Scuderia Toro Rosso a few times this year."
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Bourdais will partner Sebastien Vettel at STR next season, leaving current driver Tonio Liuzzi to look for a new '08 ride.
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"He's made his point. We're going to miss him fiercely but moving on is the right thing for him right now," commented Newman/Haas/Lanigan co-owner Paul Newman.
