Canto dumped by GRM.

Dean Canto will not drive full time in the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series after his contract with Garry Rogers Motorsport was terminated ahead of the season-opening Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

Canto, the 2000 and 2005 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Champion, was rumoured to be on the outer at GRM as early as December of last year, and has been axed from the team with one year remaining on his contract.

It is the second time that Canto's driving contract has been terminated in V8 Supercar racing, although the first came after Triple Eight Race Engineering elected not to continue the contract established by Briggs Motorsport after a mid-2003 buy-out.

Regarded as one of the most underrated drivers in the series, Canto's options for driving in 2008 appear to lie only in endurance races.

His official website published a statement from the driver:

"I am very disappointed with the decision Garry (Rogers) has made," said Canto.

"2007 was a tough year but despite being caught up in a few incidents, I finished 16th in the Championship right behind my team mate Lee who finished 15th.

"As the decision has been made so close to the start of the new series I have no choice but to only participate in this year's endurance rounds."

Lee Holdsworth will continue driving with GRM in 2008.