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[onelapdown]

I think even before you get to the single engine maker rule, the problem is that F1 engines are SO standard it doesn't give companies like Toyota the opportunity to really strut their R&D stuff. What is attracting Toyota to Le Mans is probably the benefits Peugeot and Audi have gained from racing diesels at Le Mans, and they want a similar platform to demonstrate their synergy drive, among other things. I've said for yonks the engine rules need to be opened up to powerplants other than petrol V8s.

As for whether I'd miss Toyota... meh.

[McLaren Fan]

I think even before you get to the single engine maker rule, the problem is that F1 engines are SO standard it doesn't give companies like Toyota the opportunity to really strut their R&D stuff. What is attracting Toyota to Le Mans is probably the benefits Peugeot and Audi have gained from racing diesels at Le Mans, and they want a similar platform to demonstrate their synergy drive, among other things. I've said for yonks the engine rules need to be opened up to powerplants other than petrol V8s.

As for whether I'd miss Toyota... meh.

Well said.

[prozac26]

Yes. But why waste £300m per year in F1 if you have to use someone else's technology to race? May as well just stick all your effort in to building Le Mans cars where you can have your own chassis and engine.

F1 is still a better marketing engine than LeMans.

They don't show any LeMans here, so it wouldn't be as effective marketing as F1 is.

[McLaren Fan]

I wonder what impact this would have on Williams? Unless Toyota plan to pack up their works team but at the same time concentrate on Williams' engine supply. Because that's just the manufacturer support Williams has been craving for since the end of the BMW days and even the Renault days. Apparently Sir Frank is also big buddies with Toyota's Chairman which has something to do with how the deal first came about.

If the regulations do not change - i.e. if engine regulations in particular are not opened up - I could see Toyota winding up their Formula One works team. Formula One has too much kudos not to be involved in, especially for an automotive giant like they are, so they could either increase their involvement with Williams, or just stick to supplying them decent engines and allowing Williams to get on with the rest. This would be beneficial to both Williams and Toyota. For me, it will be interesting to see how things work out over the next couple of seasons with Williams. Their fans are pinning all their last hopes on them being able to get things together fairly soon with the new regulations next season, and, depending on things work out, serious budget caps being introduced. If one or both of those don't happen, I would like to see Toyota (or another big manufacturer) buy a serious share in Williams. That way, Toyota would have its Formula One presence, Williams would not be skint, and instead be confident of its future and have a firm foundation on which to build. Sir Frank Williams is a great racer and a legend of Formula One, and he adores running his own team - and rightly so - but this has held Williams back. I've always felt that the team should have done what Ron Dennis did with McLaren. Like Sir Frank, Ron (whose knighthood is well overdue!) sees McLaren as his baby, as it were, but had the pragmatism to bring in other investors to help the team along. At the moment, Mercedes don't mind the situation in which they are, for they are getting a reasonable amount of success for a fraction of the price Toyota and Honda are paying for virtually no success. And in terms of McLaren, the future of the team is secure.

[Rivelution]

I think even before you get to the single engine maker rule, the problem is that F1 engines are SO standard it doesn't give companies like Toyota the opportunity to really strut their R&D stuff. What is attracting Toyota to Le Mans is probably the benefits Peugeot and Audi have gained from racing diesels at Le Mans, and they want a similar platform to demonstrate their synergy drive, among other things. I've said for yonks the engine rules need to be opened up to powerplants other than petrol V8s.

Well remember that Toyota had some success with their GT one car back in the '90s, which would of won in '99 if it werent for that tire failure. I'm pretty sure their success with that project is another reason why they are looking to return to Le Mans.

[headless]

Toyota should stay. At the moment there are so many young up and coming drivers, and ones already established, its difficult to think where, especially if more teams drop out, they will get a race seat.
Rosberg, Hammy, Vettel, Piquet, Senna, Davidson (possibly), Asmer, Buemi, Klien (maybe), Liuzzi (maybe), Di Grassi, Hulkenberg, Grosjean and the drivers that are already there.
Gary Paffet has had it he wont ever get a race seat now.

[Tony_sa]

[headless]

So we need Toyota to stay.

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Earlier today we reported that Toyota is considering a programme to compete at Le Mans and possibly in the American Le Mans Series.

The company confirmed to Racing-Live.com this afternoon they remain committed to Formula One until at least 2012 but do admit that the series 'must remain a technological challenge' on a day when the FIA reiterated its plans for standard engines from 2010.

"Toyota is committed to succeeding in Formula One for the long-term and our objective in Formula One is to win – we exist to win and we are committed to doing that," Toyota told us in a statement.

"However, we believe Formula One must remain a technological challenge; this is an important point for Toyota and provided this does not change we expect to continue in Formula One until at least 2012."

"Toyota has never hidden its interest in considering new motorsport opportunities, including Le Mans, currently no formal plan nor decision has been made on changes or additions to the current programmes."

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

Well, that's not exactly what you would call reaffirming your commitment to the sport. Basically, it's a thin disguise for saying if there is no technical innovation, we'll be on our way.

[darwin dali]

From F1 Live:

Earlier today we reported that Toyota is considering a programme to compete at Le Mans and possibly in the American Le Mans Series.

The company confirmed to Racing-Live.com this afternoon they remain committed to Formula One until at least 2012 but do admit that the series 'must remain a technological challenge' on a day when the FIA reiterated its plans for standard engines from 2010.

"Toyota is committed to succeeding in Formula One for the long-term and our objective in Formula One is to win – we exist to win and we are committed to doing that," Toyota told us in a statement.

"However, we believe Formula One must remain a technological challenge; this is an important point for Toyota and provided this does not change we expect to continue in Formula One until at least 2012."

"Toyota has never hidden its interest in considering new motorsport opportunities, including Le Mans, currently no formal plan nor decision has been made on changes or additions to the current programmes."

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

Well, that's not exactly what you would call reaffirming your commitment to the sport. Basically, it's a thin disguise for saying if there is no technical innovation, we'll be on our way.

Nothing wrong with this. If MM plays hardball, so can the teams. And if Ferrari starts playing hardball as they just did, MM and BE listen.

[Rivelution]

From F1 Live:

Earlier today we reported that Toyota is considering a programme to compete at Le Mans and possibly in the American Le Mans Series.

The company confirmed to Racing-Live.com this afternoon they remain committed to Formula One until at least 2012 but do admit that the series 'must remain a technological challenge' on a day when the FIA reiterated its plans for standard engines from 2010.

"Toyota is committed to succeeding in Formula One for the long-term and our objective in Formula One is to win – we exist to win and we are committed to doing that," Toyota told us in a statement.

"However, we believe Formula One must remain a technological challenge; this is an important point for Toyota and provided this does not change we expect to continue in Formula One until at least 2012."

"Toyota has never hidden its interest in considering new motorsport opportunities, including Le Mans, currently no formal plan nor decision has been made on changes or additions to the current programmes."

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

Well, that's not exactly what you would call reaffirming your commitment to the sport. Basically, it's a thin disguise for saying if there is no technical innovation, we'll be on our way.

Well thats great news for me! Thats means even better races in ALMS even though every race is entertaining. Still though, I love F1 and we need more teams!