Toyota Leaving F1?

[Wizzo]

Clear signs are emerging that Toyota could be contemplating its future on the formula one grid.

Toyota was perhaps the most enraged among F1's manufacturer ranks at the proposal of a single engine formula. Even though that prospect has receded, Toyota Motorsport president John Howett recently admitted the move "would be a reason" for the Cologne based team to quit F1.

Now, in the pages of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, it is suggested that Toyota sees returning to Le Mans-style prototype sports car racing as an alternative to F1 beyond 2010.

At this year's Le Mans 24 hour race, for instance, a dozen ununiformed Toyota engineers were present, armed with cameras and reportedly sizing up the current competitors.

Additionally, at the American Le Mans Series race in Detroit in August, Toyota officials met with representatives of the series' organising body ACO.

"We would like to go back to Le Mans," Toyota's F1 team boss Tadashi Yamashina confirms. "The final decision is budgetary.

"Under the present economic conditions, it is unlikely that we could do formula one and Le Mans in a parallel fashion," he explained.

[cosworth151]

Toy's F1 program has been a spectacularly expensive flop. They don't do well in racing unless the rules are rewritten especially for them (NASCAR) or they just cheat (WRC).

[FW14B]

Many saw this happening when they announced their deal with Williams.  However, it seems like they will just pull out altogether.  It has not exactly been a link-up which has helped either team greatly so I would not miss Toyota as a supplier, but I would worry where Williams would go to for support in future.

[John S]

Well I suppose it is not that unexpected, Toy have not been able to cut it with the the top European manufacturers in F1 and unlike Honda who are steeped in racing in cars, bikes and power boats, they see it as a marketing excercise. That probably explains why they never cracked it.

Bernie will have his work cut out then to get enough cars on the grid when they do chuck it in, perhaps he should have been kinder to Prodrive and Super Aguri. Maybe we shall see VW group now controlled by Porsche bringing Audi into F1, I'm sure a base in Germany picked up on the cheap might help.

The bright spot is that the Japanese Gp will move away from Fuji back to Suzuka.
 

[Steven Roy]

Maybe McLaren will divert their Super Aguri deal to Williams.  The two teams have a long history with each other.

[John S]

No I don't think there is the slightest chance that Ron will let Frank and Patrick get their hands on his engine or technology, they might just beat him.

[Steven Roy]

I just did a quick news search on this and since the story first appeared Toyota have put out a story that they are stayng.  So either they are going and don't want anyone to know or they planted the original story to get some press coverage.