Toyota wavers over F1 entry method

(20-Oct-98) - Toyota has yet to decide whether to build its own car or be
an engine supplier when it enters F1.

The Japanese car giant is said to have already decided to enter the sport,
probably in 2001, but it will either have to buy an existing team or supply
engines to its own outfit.

That was made clear last week by the rubber stamping of a new rule
dictating that only 12 teams can enter the World Championship.

Toyota's arch-rival Honda, is likely to have expanded the field to 12,and
F1's financial and prize money structures dictate that extra teams cannot
be added.

That leaves Toyota with two options. If it decides to build its own car, it
would have to buy an existing team, such as Arrows. Even so, it is still
expected to join forces with its successful German-based World Rally squad,
Toyota Team Europe.

The second option is an engine supply partnership with a more successful
team, such as Jordan or Benetton.

Toyota's decision is made more difficult because its competitions
philosophy differs from that of Honda, which Toyota is believed to be
entering F1 to beat.

Honda is expected to build its own car for 2000. It has already won five
World Drivers' Championships as an engine supplier from 1987-'91. Toyota,
though, is said to care only for success. That means it must at least beat
Honda from the outset.

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