Glock confirms Manor move

Manor GP has pulled off a great coup by signing up Timo Glock, as we foreshadowed here last week. He becomes the second driver to be named by one of the four new teams. Lotus has signed a driver but has yet to announce his identity or whether he is a race or reserve driver.

Glock has had some impressive drives in the last couple of seasons, with podium finishes in Bahrain and Singapore this year and at Hungary last year. He ended the season on a bit of downbeat note with injuries and illnesses and a monstrous accident at Suzuka, but he remains one of the more dependable drivers in the field and I can totally see why Manor prioritised him.

"It has always been my recommendation that we have at least one driver with experience of the 2009 cars to help our development programme, but to get a driver that has not only achieved podium finishes in 2009 but has such proven talent and the potential to take us forward for many years is very exciting," said Manor designer Nick Wirth.

"The fact that he has come and seen all aspects of the project before making his decision speaks volumes about what we have achieved so far. Now we just can't wait to get Timo into the new car once track testing begins next year."

During the Abu Dhabi weekend Glock was reported to have signed for Renault, but it seems that he's pulled back from that and has committed himself to building a team up from scratch. It will be a long hard toil, as Jacques Villeneueve will tell you from his BAR days, and you don't always stay around long enough to enjoy the fruits when they come.

2010 DRIVER LINE UP SO FAR

Mercedes

Rosberg

Heidfeld?

Red Bull

Vettel

Webber

McLaren

Hamilton

Button?

Ferrari

Alonso

Massa

Williams

Barrichello

Hulkenberg

Renault

Kubica

?

Force India

Sutil?

?

Toro Rosso

Buemi

Alguersuari

Campos

Senna

de la Rosa?

Manor

Glock

Di Grassi?

Lotus

Trulli?

Davidson?

Sauber

Heidfeld?

Fisichella?

USF1

?

?