The Brazilian is expected to be unveiled at next month's Japanese Grand Prix as partner for Olivier Panis in 2003.

The two will replace Mika Salo and Allan McNish, who were told in August that their services were no longer required.

The 29-year-old Brazilian, who is poised to win the FedEx Cart Championship in a Toyota-powered car, would become the fifth Cart champion to make the switch to F1 in the past 10 years.

Da Matta impressed the F1 rookies when he tested with them last May, but his contract with the Newman-Haas team had proved to be a stumbling block.

He is contracted to drive for the Cart outfit next season, and his contract would have to be bought out by Toyota.

F1 drive not a dream

But Da Matta insists he will not make the switch just to make up the numbers in F1.

His aim will be to make a winning impact like previous Cart champions Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya.

"I wouldn't exchange Newman-Haas for Arrows or Jordan," said Da Matta, who has dominated the Cart series this year, winning six races.

"Some guys think F1 is the greatest, but I'm not going to go there just to be a number.

"I think it's a good series, but it's not a dream. It's just something that I want to try.

"My dream is to keep having fun with racing for as long as I can and that means being able to win races and win championships."

McNish, meanwhile, will line-up in his penultimate race for Toyota in Sunday's United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis with his future still uncertain.

The 32-year-old rookie has been linked with a switch to Jordan but could end up returning to North America where he had huge success in sportscars.