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Rumormill: Toyota may announce exit from Formula 1
According to the Japanese Mainichi newspaper, Toyota is poised to withdraw from Formula One competition and will not take part in the 2010 season. Though no source is given for the news, so far Toyota is neither confirming nor denying the report.
Toyota has never had the kind of success in F1 racing that it had expected – despite dropping ridiculous sums of money (some estimate well over $400 million per year) into the sport, Toyota has managed zero race victories in seven years and 139 races worth of competition.
At this point, we'll just have to wait for an official announcement, which is currently scheduled for November 8th, but if Toyota does indeed leave before the 2010 season we know that there are a few more teams interested in taking the slot. We also know of some pretty good drivers that may be looking for a new option. Stay tuned. Thanks for the tip, Carl!
[Source: Mainichi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Hamud 7:24PM (11/03/2009)
Yeahh, let another crew take the team and win the championship, ehheehehh.
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larry raines 7:26PM (11/03/2009)
There goes Kimis big paycheck!
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Yaroukh 7:52PM (11/03/2009)
KR said earlier McLaren is the only team he would say YES to
larry raines 9:06PM (11/03/2009)
I heard he was not happy with the package MB was offering so he was considering a big paycheck from Toyota.
MB basically has him by the balls, where else would he go? Red Bull?
TheCheat 7:29PM (11/03/2009)
Further proof that Toyota has forgotten how to build good fast cars.
I'm not sure how much I'm joking or serious with that statement.
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zamafir 9:23PM (11/03/2009)
fast cars or how to race? The LF-A's fast.
TheCheat 11:01PM (11/03/2009)
I guess more how to race.
Just from the little I read on the review of the LF-A, it was fast, but didn't feel all that good.
But still, that's one car (and two when the FT-86 gets out) and it's really just there for halo effect. I mean, they're only making 500 of them, that car alone isn't gonna change much, but hopefully there's some trickle down.
sparrk 5:34AM (11/04/2009)
@zamafir , true , the LF-A is fast , but Toyota still isn't able to make fast cars on their own, they need Yamaha engines.
IRONFIST2 7:29PM (11/03/2009)
Quitters don't win. Bye-bye Toyota, stick to building hybrids.
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ALBGunner04 10:12PM (11/03/2009)
I hate how so many crews are giving up on F1.
DiRF 7:33PM (11/03/2009)
So all they've got now are the live-axle Nascars for the roundy-rounds and a few modified tC's for drifting and Celebrity Pro-Am races?
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Louis 7:39PM (11/03/2009)
Who the hell cares when they can build a car like the LFA?
IRONFIST2 7:49PM (11/03/2009)
@Louis
Because 500 fancy supercars don't make up for the millions of other boring cars they build.
freshseth83 7:52PM (11/03/2009)
They race in Japan too there buddy. ever heard of Japan Super GT? Probably not. But it's some of the best road racing there is in the world. As good or better than DTM. They race the Lexus IS in GT300 class, and Lexus SC430 in GT500.
Also I doubt this is a meeting about pulling out of F1. At least I hope it isn't. All they need is some better drivers not two guys who can't do qualifying or can't stay on the track. Their car has been steady this year, probably 3rd fastest. If they had a Hamilton or Kimi or Alonso they would have had a few wins this year. But who do they have? Glock and Trulli? Wow they're some big names! (sarcasm) That's why they were going after Kimi. Why go after drivers if you aren't sure or a budget for next year? I think it'll just be a big cut-back in spending. They have Sachs coming on as a sponsor next year so it shouldn't be too bad.
If you read the article it talks about Japanese companies throwing millions of yen at F1. What Japanese companies are sponsors for Toyota? Panasonic Denso and Esso are the only one's i see. Probably some japanese magazine and a couple newspapers looking for press.
DiRF 8:00PM (11/03/2009)
Yes, I've heard of SuperGT... I even have an R34 Skyline GT-R GT500 diecast in my collection... it just completely slipped my mind... They still race the Soarer in that?
Louis 8:20PM (11/03/2009)
@ IRONFIST2
So by racing in F1 it will make all the boring cars they made OK? What kind of idiotic logic is that? At least the LFA is AVAILABLE to the general public who have enough doughs in the back, what does Toyota racing F1 do to us consumers besides giving trolls something to BS about?
Cameron 7:40PM (11/03/2009)
I can't imagine why!
/sarcasm
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Howard H. 7:44PM (11/03/2009)
It sounds like they decided to stop throwing good money after bad. According to the article over 400 million a year for 7 years and no wins.
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freshseth83 7:55PM (11/03/2009)
BMW did the same thing. They haven't won at all this year, only took one LUCKY win last year, didn't do any wins the year before that. Only when they were partnered with Williams have they had success in the last 10 years. More time than toyota has been in F1 at 7 years. Toyota's budget wasn't 400 million either. It as closer to 250. Honda and McLaren were spending the most, next was Ferrari all over 300 million.
sparrk 5:51AM (11/04/2009)
Toyota spent the most. Ferrari and McLaren make profits from F1. BMW didn't spend much , they only made the engine for Williams and Sauber until they purchased Sauber, so BMW were on their own in F1 for only 2 or 3 years.