Toyota F1 Team Now In Search Of A Sponsor For 2008

Kingfisher Airlines is dropping its sponsorship of Toyota’s Formula One team, by mutual agreement.
 
The move had been anticipated, as the primary owner of Kingfisher is Vijay Mallya, who recently acquired his own Formula One team, the former Spyker team, now named Force India. 
 
Toyota released a statement in which it wished him well:
 
"Toyota Motorsport GmbH has enjoyed a successful partnership with Kingfisher Airlines, collaborating on several promotional events both in India and across the world. However, Dr Mallya is now focusing on his new F1 project and Kingfisher Airlines’ request for an early end to the partnership has been agreed to be in the best interests of both parties."
 
The team’s boss, Tadashi Yamahina, added, “I would like to thank Kingfisher Airlines for its support during 2007 and I wish Dr Mallya good luck with his new F1 venture. I look forward to seeing him next season, even if he is now associated with a rival team."
 
Kingfisher, which is one of the companies controlled by Mallya, was an associate sponsor of the Toyota Formula One team, but certainly not central to that team’s financial stability.
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ThierryHenry14 - 1/2/2008 4:08:38 PM

+2 Boost

thats just a dumb statement. That would be factory funds...

pacotacolol - 1/2/2008 11:41:06 AM

+2 Boost

this is not true. they just signed with polyphonics/radioshack

pacotacolol - 1/2/2008 11:41:25 AM

+2 Boost

or is that dropped to?

masaman23 - 1/2/2008 11:42:23 AM

+3 Boost

yeah. that was never acually completed

JUGNU - 1/2/2008 12:38:58 PM

+2 Boost

yeah that's understandable as obviuosly Dr Mallya's company kingfisher will now sponser their own F1 team Force India.

btw i guess now which company would like to be associated with Mclaren?

JUGNU

rocker - 1/2/2008 4:51:32 PM

+2 Boost

Get a top tier driver that consistently gets them on the podium and they will have no problem getting a sponsor. But it seems their philosophy is that it is the car, effort and technology that wins races not the drivers that actually put the rubber on the road.

M53R - 1/2/2008 5:24:17 PM

+2 Boost

Ralph used to win races before he went to Toyota F1, and Jarno beat Ralph last year. I dont think the problem is with the drivers or the car, but the team management.

JUGNU - 1/3/2008 5:19:40 AM

+1 Boost

problem is with the drivers. See Williams used Toyota's engines and they scored nearly double the points as they got a great driver in Nico unlike Ralf who was only there because of the surname and can't survive on track for few laps let alone the full race. I agree before he was better but that could be because he was younger and hungry fo success and passionate. Now he was just.... we will see where he lands up.

at best Force india. then maybe u'll agree with me what Ralf is worth NOW. and Toyota was paying him like anythig.
Toyota needs new drivers especially younger ones, who are very passionate and they will bring results. vettel, Nico, Hamilton like.

JUGNU