Da Matta plans racing return

UPDATE This week's Autosport magazine reports that Cristiano da Matta acknowledges that he will not return to racing until 2008 at the earliest. He's determined to make a comeback, but he's been told by doctors not to test a racing car until next year, but instead to drive go-karts solo. "They don't want me to be exposed to any risk. They worry about how my brain would react to the slightest impact. And I'm not the one who is going to take risks after coming back from where I came from."

11/28/06 Cristiano da Matta’s recovery continues and the 33-year-old revealed his intentions to go back to racing in an interview to Brazil’s Grande Premio website.

“I hadn’t been away from the race tracks since I was six, so this has been very hard for me," he said. “The doctor made me promise I wouldn’t be thinking about my future, because it would be bad for my recovery, but I don’t think I’ll be able to keep the promise!"

“I’m almost 100% [Back to normal]."

“I feel very well physically, almost ready in fact," he added. “But I can’t risk hitting my head again now, so I’ll have to wait a little longer."

"I'm very exited about going back to racing."