Last's night "might be leaving" is now definite. Toyota issued a press release today announcing its departure from Formula One, effective with the 2010 season.
"TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports, even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year," the company said in a statement, which Toyota President Akio Toyoda read in a press conference in Tokyo. "However, when considering TMC's motorsports activities next year and beyond from a comprehensive midterm viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities, TMC decided to withdraw from F1."
The press release tries to put a positive spin on things, of course, noting that the company will continue to compete in other motorsports and that Toyota (and Toyoda) is committed to trying to inject a little more fun into its lineup: "TMC intends to move forward in developing exciting production vehicles, such as the Lexus LFA supercar and compact rear-wheel-drive sports cars."
This leaves Ferrari and Renault as the only manufacturer works teams in F1, along with the Mercedes-Benz/McLaren partnership.
IL News: Toyota Gives Up on Formula 1 Quest
Press Release: Toyota to Withdraw from F1
Photo Source: Toyota F1 Team
cr_driver says:
10:17 AM, 11/ 4/09
Sign of times....what matters the most is their injection of sports cars in their actual production cars. The LF-A after all its cons, is a good attempt.
f1ndler says:
10:54 AM, 11/ 4/09
:(
jackson611 says:
11:59 AM, 11/ 4/09
and Renault held and emergency meeting to decided if wants to stay, forcing Kubica to try to sign a deal with Mclaren before Kimi.