Saturday January 8th, 2000

Arrows driver Toranosuke Takagi confirmed he has quit Formula One after months of speculation about his future with the British-based team.

Takagi, whose decision not to race in F1 leaves the sport without a Japanese driver for the first time in 13 years, is set to race in the prestigious Japanese Formula Nippon series.

"This is my decision," said Takagi, who finished pointless last season. "I told Mr Nakajima (his manager) that I want to challenge for the Formula Nippon title again, and I want to race to win."

Takagi, who last competed in Formula Nippon in 1997, looks set to be replaced by either 1999 Formula Nippon champion Tom Coronel or former Benetton and Stewart driver Jos Verstappen.