Winless Toyota Finally Considers Exiting Formula One But May Enter LeMans

Def. the right call to leave F1. The fact that the largest carmaker has had such dismal racing results is flat out embarrassing.

They came in second in 99, ahead of Audi.

They did win in their respective class in the 1999 Le Mans if I'm not mistaking.

Toyota is an operating company, not a technology company. No one should be surprised that they failed at F1.

Their formula in Formula 1 was all wrong. They think the best car and rechnology wins, wrong, you must have a top notch driver to win along with the car. Give it one last go and sign Michael Schumacher for $40 mil per year for 3 years and I guarantee in the third year you will win a championship.

@ rocker,
They can't afford to these days. Remember, they already threw away that much with the WRONG Schumacher, Ralf. It's sad that his signing was the start of their downward spiral.

Totally agree, Ralf is and was a hack. Sir Frank lost a lot of money on him.

@ amazindouchebag,
Big words from someone who turns tricks for BMW. They just scored their first Constructor and driver win in Canada this year.

no competition, low tech, and no BMW wins.

Of course they should withdraw, all they did was put up a ton of money and that you could buy a win, who do they think they are, the yankees?

@ Turbo,

Just ignore amazindipsh*t. He's got his panties in a bunch because a factory BMW doesn't race in Le Mans Series and won't be in ALMS until 2009 (Is that technologically advanced enough, amazin'!?). Besides, everyday his Aunt Flo is visiting when you mention Audi R10 TDI and Corvette C6.R dominance in a series that a factory BMW doesn't compete in.

last i checked the aero tech of the prototypes are superior than F1, they match the downforce and g's on turns with slower speeds. To top it off their high performance engines are tuned for high fuel performance.

I don't think in kintergarden they teach you anything about technology so how would you know?

"last i checked the aero tech of the prototypes are superior than F1, they match the downforce and g's on turns with slower speeds. To top it off their high performance engines are tuned for high fuel performance."

Last i checked, you know nothing, F1 has more rules, that limit down force. Just the fact you think le mans is more advanced then F1 shows your ignorance. The fact that all the Audi fanboys think le mans is superior because Audi is in it is hilarious! S4,VISO, and VULACN are biased jokes.

Toyota was noch competition for Mercedes, BMW and Ferrari...
The same will happen in Les Mans...Audi will eat em

Well the problem with the Japanese is they always try to show their supremacy in everything and they have'nt got such racing jeans like the Ferrari,just look at Mercedes who were front runners in F1 30 to 40 years ago battling with bentley's but now they are in collaboration with mclaren due to lack of technology and less driver oriented nature of the company even though bmw is doing good.F1 is all about technology and breakthroughs.

Uhh... huh?

I mean to say their are only ITALIANS,GERMANS,FRENCH and JAPANESE in engine suppliers in F1 but not GMC or FORD even though before 2003-04 when GM and ford were having tons of cash, so only a few can do in the game of f1.

I've come to realize that Toyota really doesn't have the ability to make true sport cars. Toyota can make sporty, pretentious cars, but until they can pull off on a regular basis, true sport cars on different levels, not the Supra or the MR2 that ran for some time, but a real sport car program like what Nissan or Volkswagen or even Ford has, then I think they would be taken seriously on the world stage.

There have been several comments that were less than well-put here, to say the least.
Toyota had an amazing car for LeMans, the TF01, but it was regulated into obsolescence. They quit the series to go F1 racing, and have learned that it takes more than money to win. Jarno qualifies well but his race pace sucks. Timo could probably do something if they turned him loose, but really, they need an ace driver, like Alonso, who can drive a crap car quickly and at the same time develop their new one into a major contender.

...."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."

I think Toyota is right, there is no point in staying if u can't do much/not much scope, not even develping their own engine. Toyota is a competitive and innovative company, they certainly won't like it. Allmost all new F1 rules are more about improving spectacle(overtaking) and reducing costs. None about(save KERS) technological advancements. F1 is becoming more like any other racing series like GP2, A1...etc. Everything Standardised.
Just imagine if Mclaren Mercedes win the tender and a Mclaren Mercedes engine in a Ferrari? And Companies like BMW and Honda, known for their engines, not having one in their car. I see not only Toyota but even others raising some serious concerns about this standardised engines.

F1 should be F1, the pinnacle of Motorsports and technology. I think ther are loosing their way a bit.

JUGNU

Jugnu, would you like F1 better if the cars were gold or chrome plated? I know that so many in your neighborhood prefer their cars in this (classless) way.

"F1 should be F1, the pinnacle of Motorsports and technology. I think ther are loosing their way a bit."

That comment is good for a laugh at least, just like amazingdouche is the town jester. F1 is becoming irrelevant. Technology and permformance have moved to Le Mans, ALMS, and other venues. Where are the diesels in F1 and other significant technology junobean?

I thought that Toyota can be successful at whatever they choose to do. Thats what folks here were saying. I guess that they were wrong.

LOL, Audi and Peugeot will bury their hopes and dreams.

last time Toyota was in le mans they beat audi. That is a fact.

What Sailor said. Audi has improved so much since 1999 that it's not even comparable. Unless Toyota brings an extremely high-performance and ultra-reliable diesel to the table, it won't happen again.

I guess, after piling up the wins in F1 Toyota is ready to "dominate" Le Mans. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Ferrari respond to plans to standardise engines - FIA reply. 28 Oct 2008

“Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula One, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire raison of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d'etre based principally on competition and technological development.

“The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport.”

Source: Formula1.com

as i said yesterday, more teams will raise concerns about this standardised engine rule, Toyota is not the only one, even the oldest team is ' re-evaluate....the viability of continuing its presence in the sport'.

JUGNU

People identify Ferrari with sports cars. F1 has been the halo, but sports car racing has been Ferrari's bread and butter, even before the company raced F1. The Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio, the Tour de France, the Nurburgring 1000km, LeMans, I could go on and on. Several of their highly coveted models were actually named for these races.

'Ferrari threaten to quit'

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4418991,00.html

JUGNU

BMW Sauber is 3 years old, look where they're at now ... already 1 win, 1 pole position, 2 fastest laps and 15 podiums.
Where's Toyota?

Actually BMW Sauber is 15 years old:

http://www.f1.com/teams_and_drivers/teams/7/

Sauber is 15 years old. BMW bought it in 2006. got the image?
So now it's BMW Sauber. Sauber is just a name. He's not a contributor.
Visit bmw-sauber.com for more information ...

"Sauber is just a name. He's not a contributor."

That's just semantics. It's the same time with a different name.