... Sauber remains high on my list, Pedro De La Rosa is my driver to look out for as is Heidfeld and I'll also be right behind Toyota when they line up on the Melbourne grid. The 12th car manufacturer will make their debut in Australia and I like many others I imagine want to see them do well.
Toyota ... Read review
This review already contains more than 120 words. As a Ciao member you could earn up to £5 with this review.
Being the avid F1 fan I think that seeing Ferrari or Mclaren or Williams bounding away to victory is very boring. Dont get me wrong, I love Motorsport but I am more of a fan of the underdogs. For instance I followed Arrows when they hit top form in 2000. However, as soon as they signed Enrique more money than talent Bernoldi and decided to have a rebadged Pug engine in their cars, I quickly went off them. So I supported Sauber - before you say anything I am not a glory hunter because I got interested after their impressive winter testing.
In 2002 I have already decided who I am supporting. Sauber remains high on my list, Pedro De La Rosa is my driver to look out for as is Heidfeld and I'll also be right behind Toyota when they line up on the Melbourne grid. The 12th car manufacturer will make their debut in Australia and I like many others I imagine want to see them do well.
Toyota have quite a rich pedigree in motorsport. First of Toyota were rally champions severla times over in the 80's and then once again in 1994 when Frenchman Didier Auriol took the winners trophy. Touring cars has also been a strong point and in 1992 came close to taking the title in Britain. They needn't be too disheartened beacause their Corona and Carina models stormed to Asian touring car success. Only Proton has won more. A few barren years in rallying saw them pull out in 1999 to concentrate on their F1 program. They also took part in the 1998 Le Mans race and would have won if they hadn't have broken down within 3 hours of the finish.
The F1 program started early in 1999 two years before their launch in a bid to be competative from the start. Based in Cologne, Germany the designers got their heads down and created their first car.
THE CAR
Of course the car is the most important part of the F1 equation, so Toyota got to work early. It wasn't long before they started to cause a stir among the F1 paddock. Toyota had elected to build their own chassis and own engine - something that only Renault and Ferrari are doing. By doing the designing thi swhy it was going to be a while before the car was competative but it would be cheaper and more conveniant. The worlds richest manufacturer have pumped millions into the Toyota F1 project in a bid to increase their improving image even more. Led by Ove Andersson, the Swede hopes that Toyota can finally be the team to take on Ferrari. they have also rented out the demanding Paul Ricard circuit in France which is going to give a good indidcation into the cars speed. In addition, Toyota are also going to travel to Europes Grand Prix circuits to do occasional tests to see how on the pace they are.
THE DRIVERS
In a bid to get above the rest Toyota were keen to sign up some drivers to test the cars as soon as possible. First to be signed up was Scottish driver Allan McNish. At 32 years old the Scot is an unlikely F1 driver but thanks to his previous and very impressive Toyota drives he is a respected driver no matter his drive. In the past he has been a Williams and Mclaren driver further donating to his skill. By being the Toyota test driver he will hope to be promoted to full time driver in 2002. And he just has. Toyota have been impressed with his speed, skill and masses of input from the start and after 10 years of jumping in and pout of F1 he will finally make his F1 debut in 2002. However, he will have to be second best to the no.1 driver from Finland. Mika Salo has been in F1 for years but has never really shone in cars like Arrows, Tyrrell or Sauber. After finding himself out of work in 1999 he was signed up as the replacement to Michael Schumacher. Despite some mediocre performances he starred at the German GP when he led for the first time for most of the race displaying his quality. In the end he finished a career best 2nd but thanks to team orders he should have won the race. In 2000 he took a gamble by signing for Toyota. He has been rewarded with a come back to the grid in 2002. He could be a suprise package.
SPONSORSHIP
Toyota have a lot of money so you wouldn't think they need sponsorship but you'd be wrong. They only need one main sponsor and that could have come in the form of two sponsors. Toyota said they wanted a sponsor that will fit in with their red livery, so it seemed Coca-Cola had the advantage. However, Toyota plumped for Panasonic because it was a Japanese brand with a Japanese car manufacturer - it made sense.
MY PREDICTION
There are big things expected from Toyota but I am urging you not to expect too much. Toyota have never done anything like this before so there are bound to be rough edges. They have also taken the risk of building their own chasis and engine - look at Renault and Ferrari who at the beginning struggled to make the grade. Also look back to 1999 when BAR predicted race wins and finished with no pointS. Despite all of this though, Salo offers good experiance and the Toyota is bound to be reliable. I am not predicting race wins but I think they will get the odd few points - I think they'll finish the year in 7th or 8th place.
OVERALL
I really want the Toyota team to do well but I am not getting my expectations too high.
The new Panasonic Toyota team will be entering into formula 1 next season for the first race in Austrailia on March 3rd 2002. They wil be based in Germany. Driving for the team will be Mika Salo and Allan McNish. The team have gone for one experienced driver and one new one.
Mika Salo has been in f1 since 1994. As you might have guess by his first name, Mika, he is from Finland. He started with the Lotus team but had to leave when they went bankrupt. ... ...has been testing with the Toyota team since March and they must have been impressed because they signed him for the second driver seat. He has never raced in formula one but has been racing in F3 and F3000 for the last ten years and now finally has his break. He comes from Scotland.
The team's sponsor are Japanese electric company Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd. Toyota are also Japanese. It seems that the reasons they have started up a team ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Reasonable experience. Disadvantages: Inconsistent. Not quick. Poor in qualifying.
...It seems Alexander Wurz is unlikely to be with Benetton for next season. The team has been very disappointed with the lanky Austrian's performance -his qualifying times have been pretty abysmal,he seems to lack confidence and has not been doing justice to his team. The team are rumoured to have been seeking alternatives to Wurz. Names mentioned include Benetton test driver Antonio Pizzonia -but he has been deemed a year or so away from being ready for FI racing- and that of the brilliant young British driver Jenson Button,who has also been linked to Jaguar.
Things look a bit bleak for Wurz. With the exception perhaps of a possible move to the Sauber team- as current driver Mika Salo is said to be moving to Toyota as its development driver in preparation for entry into Formula I in 2002- Alexander could well find himself without a drive...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Very practical with that renowned Toyota dependability Disadvantages: Pricey and quite bland
...roots either. The same predicament is also facing Toyota’s new slant on the almighty Scenic and clever Zafira. Toyota have marketed this car as an executive car in a sharp – if larger – suit, which can take on the odd hatchback in the dash from the traffic lights while not forgetting its original practical lifestyle. The Verso will have to be convincing or it may be stuck in the middle of nowhere like its unloved predecessor, the Picnic.
Well, from the outside the Verso is no stunning beauty but then again its not meant to be. Its differing size however, means it struggles to find its niche. It seems to big to be a small MPV but is too small to cut it as a full-blown people mover. Its large size is enhanced by its butch figure. Bulging bumpers makes the Verso seem a little flabby next to its – only –...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: great race, first 'normal' race of the season Disadvantages: little in the way of retirement and incident, but plenty of intriguing moments regarding strategy
...Webber (Australia), Bahrain's qualifying on the Saturday provided stark contrast for Webber, whom, blocked by Sutil in the first section of qualifying was unable to make an inroads on the front of the grid and was to subsequently start from 19th position. Vettel had a better time of it, placing 3rd and keeping up his record of being the only driver to place in the top 3 starting slots throughout 2009 without fail. Qualifying was undoubtedly happiest for Toyota with Jarno Trulli (Italy) 1st and Timo Glock (Germany) 2nd for the first ever all Toyota front row at a Grand Prix. A proud moment for the Japanese team that has invested millions in Formula 1 since they began more than 10 years ago.
Lewis Hamilton (British) was also a much happier man putting his improving McClaren on the 3rd row of the grid in a highly respectable 5th spot...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
13.08.2000
23.11.2001
27.04.2009
