Toyota warns of budget cuts
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AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 18, 2009 00:00
TOKYO - Japan's last remaining Formula One team, Toyota, warned yesterday of drastic budget cuts as the economic crisis took its toll, but said a maiden win would boost its chances of survival. Toyota Racing has not won a race since its 2002 debut, and team chairman Tadashi Yamashina said it would be "worthless" for the team to continue if it failed to improve its performance.
"We feel the pressure not because we are the last Japanese team but because we are a team without a win," he said, adding that if results in F1 did not improve, "it will be deemed worthless to be there."
Toyota finished fifth among 11 teams in the constructors' standings last year, with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock ninth and 10th respectively in the drivers' championship.
The economic crisis has forced its Japanese rivals Honda and Super Aguri out of the premier motorsport.
Teams will shut down their manufacturing for two weeks in summer.
Toyota finished fifth among 11 teams in the constructors' standings last year, with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock ninth and 10th respectively in the drivers' championship.
The economic crisis has forced its Japanese rivals Honda and Super Aguri out of the premier motorsport.
Teams will shut down their manufacturing for two weeks in summer.