All of us at Panasonic Toyota Racing are still feeling the sadness of leaving the world of Formula 1. On Thursday, all members of Toyota Motorsport were given a chance to say a final farewell to the team which we have built up in Cologne since the start of this decade. As an appropriate tribute, we all stood together as a Formula 1 team for the final time as Kamui took the TF109 for an honourary spin around our factory on Toyota Allee in the Cologne suburb of Marsdorf.
This morning there was a big shock for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team in Cologne when we were told during a company meeting that Toyota will leave Formula 1 with immediate effect.
Obviously this is a time of great sadness for us but we would like to thank you, our fans, with all our heart for your great support and encouragement.
We also ask for your understanding that we have no more words to add at this time.
Tokyo—TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces it plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1) at the end of the 2009 season.
TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports, even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year. However, when considering TMC’s motor-sports activities next year and beyond from a comprehensive midterm viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities, TMC decided to withdraw from F1.
TMC leaves F1 having compiled 13 podium and 87 point finishes over eight challenging seasons since 2002 with Panasonic Toyota Racing, a full-constructor team. It views its time in F1 — in which teams put forth their best efforts to fiercely compete at racing’s highest level — as an irreplaceable experience that provided an opportunity to develop both human resources and its R&D operations. TMC expresses its deepest appreciation to its F1 fans and others for their warm support.
TMC also wants to express its heartfelt gratitude to all Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers to date and to all Toyota Motorsport GmbH employees who have helped make the team’s achievements possible. TMC intends to do its best to find a solution for those parties who will be affected by any inconvenience this decision may cause.
Drawing on its experience in F1 and other motor sports, TMC intends to move forward in developing exciting production vehicles, such as the Lexus “LFA” supercar and compact rear-wheel-drive sports cars. In motor sports, it will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motor sports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate.
The Panasonic Toyota Racing garage was certainly abuzz in Abu Dhabi, and not just after Kamui’s brilliant sixth place finish in just his second Grand Prix.
There was a reggae beat pumping out on Saturday when The Wailers – formerly Bob Marley’s backing band – gatecrashed the party to see what Formula 1 was all about.
This afternoon Formula 1 cars drove the Yas Marina Circuit in an official session for the first time and it was a fascinating opening practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In the comfort of the air-conditioned garage, Timo Glock joined team members to cheer on Kamui Kobayashi and Jarno Trulli as they experienced the 5.554km, 21-turn track for the first time at the wheel of a TF109.
Straight from Abu Dhabi here comes the latest GP Cam feature starring Kamui Kobayashi. As it the last GP Cam feature for the 2009 season your feedback on this project is highly appreciated. Tell us what you liked most, what you did not like and what we can improve for 2010 by simply writing us an email to contact@toyota-f1.com.
If you watch Formula 1 on television, the life of a Bridgestone tyre effectively starts at the beginning of a stint and ends when it is hastily replaced at a pit stop. But there is much more to a tyre’s journey than this.
Formula 1 has become quite used to visiting new venues and experiencing another level in terms of facilities, so expectations were naturally high when Panasonic Toyota Racing arrived in Abu Dhabi.
We took our camera and did a little happy snapping to give you an idea of what the Yas Marina Circuit is really like. Read more to see our exclusive photos.
So, the final round of the season is upon us and takes the team to Abu Dhabi, a new venue for Formula 1.
Most of the team arrived early in the week and the first sight of Abu Dhabi came on a team bus from the airport. At familiar races, team members open a book, sleep or lose themselves in music but this week most eyes were staring out of the windows to catch an impression of Abu Dhabi.
Several team members are actually very familiar with the Middle East, if not Abu Dhabi itself, having been part of Toyota’s Middle East Rally Championship adventures in the 1990s, taking in exotic venues such as Oman and Yemen.
Alas, the journey from airport to hotel was much like any other and gave little clue as to the true character of the United Arab Emirates.
PUSH is not only the name of our very own team blog. Our official team magazine is so called too. We do not know if you have found the time to have a closer look at the latest publication but as our final race for the season is coming closer it might be interesting for you to be remind of the double page article in issue number four ”Fight to the finish”, where we talk about our final destination in more detail.
To go there simply click the link “PUSH MAGAZINE” in our blog role on the right side of this post and you are there.
We will share more information about this great new venue with you in the comming days. So stay tuned for hot news from Abu Dhabi.
