Please come back Toyota/TTE!!

[Simmi]

I know Toyota pulled the plug on F1 due to "the current economic situation". But they wouldn't be feeling the pinch so hard if they didn't have a complete failure of an F1 Team.

In a bit of what I assume was their press release Toyota say:

"In motorsports, [Toyota] will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate."

So if they want some success for their dollars then surely they should go back to what they were actually good at. And in the process bring one of the power teams back to the WRC. I'm sure it would cost around a quarter of their F1 budget - if that.

Obviously the FIA needs to stop sitting on their hands and get the regs in place for the next few years. But surely it is a good thing this rule change will coincide with a major manufacturer becoming available.

Thoughts? Might they prefer to go back to Le Mans? Or both? Or neither...

[Leon]

I know Toyota pulled the plug on F1 due to "the current economic situation". But they wouldn't be feeling the pinch so hard if they didn't have a complete failure of an F1 Team.

In a bit of what I assume was their press release Toyota say:

"In motorsports, [Toyota] will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate."

So if they want some success for their dollars then surely they should go back to what they were actually good at. And in the process bring one of the power teams back to the WRC. I'm sure it would cost around a quarter of their F1 budget - if that.

Obviously the FIA needs to stop sitting on their hands and get the regs in place for the next few years. But surely it is a good thing this rule change will coincide with a major manufacturer becoming available.

Thoughts? Might they prefer to go back to Le Mans? Or both? Or neither...

Based on the current state of the WRC I wouldn;t bet for a return from Toyota. Also consider the closure, sorry the change of direction of the Toyota in Africa, the first to prepare an S2000 as well as the Australia thing with the s2000 as well as......

As much as I write about it the slimmer the chances for a return

[bluuford]

I know Toyota pulled the plug on F1 due to "the current economic situation". But they wouldn't be feeling the pinch so hard if they didn't have a complete failure of an F1 Team.

In a bit of what I assume was their press release Toyota say:

"In motorsports, [Toyota] will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate."

So if they want some success for their dollars then surely they should go back to what they were actually good at. And in the process bring one of the power teams back to the WRC. I'm sure it would cost around a quarter of their F1 budget - if that.

Obviously the FIA needs to stop sitting on their hands and get the regs in place for the next few years. But surely it is a good thing this rule change will coincide with a major manufacturer becoming available.

Thoughts? Might they prefer to go back to Le Mans? Or both? Or neither...

Autosport also wrote that Renault is currently having meeting where they are discussing about the possibility to follow Toyota. Not very likely, but still possibility. That would leave F1 to the same level in terms of Manufacturers, that means only two Manufacturers.
And going to WRC might be quite a good opportunity. If the new regulations will be applied for 2011 then I think that Manu team can be quite competitive with even 1/5th or even 1/6th of Toyota´s current F1 budget.

[Francis44]

Rally is more affordable so why not!!!!

[Simmi]

Based on the current state of the WRC I wouldn;t bet for a return from Toyota. Also consider the closure, sorry the change of direction of the Toyota in Africa, the first to prepare an S2000 as well as the Australia thing with the s2000 as well as......

As much as I write about it the slimmer the chances for a return

True it is not a positive that those operations have closed down. But a full works WRC bid would not require the use of these facilities, nor I doubt the manpower.

It would also be an updated/new version of any existing car. But as you say still not very positive.

[Brother John]

Keep on dreaming, Toyota says that they only want to be occupy with ' core business' , thats building cars.
Here does nobody have visibility on what´s happening in the world with the future of the economy!
But be certain that there is still more bad news to come and more rapidly than you all think.

[bluuford]

Keep on dreaming, Toyota says that they only want to be occupy with ' core business' , thats building cars.
Here does nobody have visibility on what´s happening in the world with the future of the economy!
But be certain that there is still more bad news to come and more rapidly than you all think.

Well, I didn't think that it was bad news that Toyota pulled out from F1 :-) For sure they need to look where to expose their trademark. And it seems that in F1 they got only medicore or bad exposure.

[I am evil Homer]

Whereas in rallying they'll get very little exposure full stop thanks to the FIA and ISC.

[Simmi]

The car in front was never a Toyota. So it was pointless in selling cars. In rallying they could actually claim it to be true.

[Rallyper]

Making cars is one thing - selling is one other.

Selling more cars is just to be participating in rallying in a worlwide series - like WRC or IRS.

Toyota should return to WRC and get the most payback for every invested yen.

[HaCo]

Keep on dreaming, Toyota says that they only want to be occupy with ' core business' , thats building cars.
Here does nobody have visibility on what´s happening in the world with the future of the economy!
But be certain that there is still more bad news to come and more rapidly than you all think.

Nonsense, read this:

Toyota added that it would continue to use its F1 experience in "developing exciting production vehicles" and that it would remain involved in motor racing, albeit at a lower level.

"In motorsports, [Toyota] will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate."

Of course no garantee that they will return to rallying, but nothing states they will only 'occupy' with building cars. If you only build, you will not sell, you also have to do something like marketing.

[Langdale Forest]

Toyota should have never gone to F1 and they should have always stayed in WRC.

[Sulland]

They are involved in US racing, but not sure if that is Toyota USA or Japan.

And since they already have a S2000 based rally car, some of the development cost is already taken away !

Welcome back !

[Langdale Forest]

The car did not do very well in the BRC in 2007.

[N.O.T]

Toyota won the prize for the most retarded decision in the history of motorsports back in 99....i am very happy they failed in the stupid oversized cart championship.

maybe now they make some wiser decisions...

[Langdale Forest]

The most retarded thing in WRC history was to put Matthew Wilson in a car for a full season.

[J.Lindstroem]

I think the decision to put Conrad in a Wrc car for a whole season is even worse.

[AndyRAC]

Toyota won the prize for the most retarded decision in the history of motorsports back in 99....i am very happy they failed in the stupid oversized cart championship.

maybe now they make some wiser decisions...

It was a slightly strange decision. No experience of F1 before - mainly it was so they didn't lose face vs Honda who were supplying engines.

In my view the WRC was their natural home.

[Langdale Forest]

I think the decision to put Conrad in a Wrc car for a whole season is even worse.

Shall we start "make conrad history again"? :uhoh:

[White Sauron]

The most retarded thing in WRC history was to put Matthew Wilson in a car for a full season.

4 seasons to be precise ;) And at least one more coming.

Toyota would make a welcome return to the WRC, but I don't think they'll return until the new regulations come in force.

[J.Lindstroem]

Shall we start "make conrad history again"? :uhoh:

Ok. Is it better to start Wilson history again?

[Langdale Forest]

That's what i'll do.

[Buzz Lightyear]

150 staff are to be kept on the Cologne for 'grass roots' motorsport....

[J.Lindstroem]

That's what i'll do.

And ill start the Conrad story. same different name id say.

[mdesign]

It would be cool if they put a team on the WRC Cup with the Auris S2000. Just to get experience for a official comeback on 2011... I'll just keep dreaming!

[Langdale Forest]

And ill start the Conrad story. same different name id say.


You might as well start it and there is already a Latvala thread.

[MJW]

H*ll of a thing if Toyota came back to rallying and went IRC?

[White Sauron]

It would be cool if they put a team on the WRC Cup with the Auris S2000. Just to get experience for a official comeback on 2011... I'll just keep dreaming!

Well... With Glyn Hall now heading the South Africa Toyota Motorsport operations, it's quite possible.

[koko0703]

Toyota is co-developing a new high-performance compact car with Subaru, and it is widely speculated here in Japan that Toyota would like to make Subaru their performance brand. In fact Toyota already made Subaru to withdraw from the city-going compact cars and concentrate on their all-wheel drive technology and boxer engines. So if Toyota will be coming back to the WRC near future, my guess is that they will come back under the name of Subaru.

I personally believe that Subaru won't be recognized as Toyota's performance brand unless they participate in the motorsports at the international level, so I'm crossing my fingers that their choice of motorsports will be the WRC.

[Mise]

Little off topic but speaking of japanese manufactorers is there any news or rumours that Mitsubishi or Honda will join wrc when the new regs are anounced?

Can Subaru and Mitsu make a s1600t car based on Groupn cars?