Heinz-Harald Frentzen will compete in German touring cars next season after failing to land a Formula One drive.
The German, who won three grands prix driving for Williams and Jordan, will drive an Opel in the DTM series after Sauber opted not to renew his contract.
Frentzen
said: "The whole team is highly motivated. I think there is an opportunity to win races and the challenge is to contribute my share to the team's success."
Frentzen
"I must get used to having a roof over my head but it was important for me to have four wheels under my bottom again," the 36-year-old said after signing a contract.
A veteran of 157 grands prix,
"I considered it all very carefully," he told a news conference at Opel's headquarters in Ruesselsheim, Germany. "I don't think DTM has anything to envy to Formula One and I don't feel sad at all. I'm looking forward to exciting races."
, who will team up with Scotsman Peter Dumbreck at Opel, admitted towards the end of last season he would not continue in Formula One. Frentzen raced in Formula One for nearly a decade until the end of the 2003 season, when his contract with the Swiss-based Sauber team was not renewed.