[Raceboy]

Toyota F1 is go!
Toyota took the wraps off its first Formula One car in Germany this morning [Monday], giving the final green light to the company's first participation in the top flight.

The Cologne-based team hosted the world's motorsport media at its recently built Cologne factory, with drivers Allan McNish and Mika Salo taking the covers off the TF102, resplendent in Toyota's traditional red-and-white colour scheme. The paintwork was different to that sported during the team's extensive 2001 test programme, with red flashes on a predominantly white background reminiscent of the McLarens of old, and carried the logos of the team's newly acquired partners AOL Time Warner and Wella, as well as confirmed title backer Panasonic.

The TF102, is a successor to the 2001 test car, the TF101, and confirms Toyota Racing's desire to build its car entirely under one roof. In doing so, it joins Ferrari in producing its own chassis and engine, and becomes the first new entrant to do so since 1979. It is also the first Japanese manufacturer to compete in its own right since 1968. The new car has been designed by a team led by chief designer Gustav Brunner, who joined Toyota in May, and overseen by technical manager of the chassis department, Dago Röhrer.

Over 30 countries are represented amongst the 550 employees at the team's base in Cologne, making Toyota truly a 'United Nations' of F1.

The team's base was recently expanded from 18,000 to 30,000 square metres as the F1 project got into gear, and now incorporates the most sophisticated equipment available, which allows the team to build and develop the majority of things in-house. The floor space is split 60:40 between the chassis and engine departments. Calibration of the on-site wind tunnel is drawing to a close, and it should be up and running early in 2002.

Although the F1 programme is based in Germany, the team has access to Toyota's extensive R&D facilities in Japan, and there is a continuous flow of information.

"We are extremely pleased to make Toyota's first ever race car debut today," commented Tsutomu Tomita, chairman of Toyota Motorsport and managing director of Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, "Though we have only just climbed over one of many hurdles we will face during our F1 challenge, we want to share the joy and excitement of the completion of the car with all of our partners and Toyota members."

"We are committed to challenging in F1 with determination. Through our endeavour, we wish to convey the excitement of Formula 1 races to the fans around the globe."

Next year, Toyota will test with the new TF102, initially at its 'home' circuit at Paul Ricard. The team also plans to participate in a joint test scheduled in Barcelona, where it will have its first run with other teams.

Just two and a half months remain until the opening race of the season, and it will be an extremely busy period as the test programme with the TF102 gets underway. However, all in the team are looking forward to the challenge of the first race weekend in Australia.

Intensive testing will resume in January 2002 with drivers Mika Salo and Allan McNish. The team is also in the process of finding test drivers but will only announce these as and when a contract is signed

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