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Monday May 11, 2009

Report: Angry Toyota ponder 2010 F1 pullout

PARIS: Japanese team Toyota may not enter the 2010 Formula One world championship in protest at controversial plans to introduce a voluntary budget cap, it was reported on Saturday.

Many teams are believed to be unhappy with the FIA decision to impose a two-tier budget cap system in 2010 and Toyota president John Howett told www.autosport.com his team were currently not in a position to commit for next year.

“Under the rules as they are published, we cannot submit an entry,” he said.

“There are concerns about the governance process within the sport, that there are clearly prescribed areas of discussion within the sporting and technical rules and we don’t feel they are being complied with.

“From Toyota’s perspective there are a number of concerns that really need clarifications before we commit to the future. We want to be here. We believe we have been a good corporate citizen within the F1 environment, but now we must reflect long and hard on what we do in the future.”

When asked to clarify what the chances were of Toyota lodging an entry for 2010 by the end of this month, Howett said: “I would say it is very likely we won’t enter unless something changes significantly.” — AFP

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