Toyota breaks away from Hispania Racing Team, leaving the Formula 1 Team with no cars for next season
Having left Formula 1 racing in 2009, Toyota is seeking “contractual payment” from Hispania Racing Team, because the new Formula 1 team failed to pay its dues to the company, which had agreed to supply Hispania with cars for the 2011 season.
The Spanish team, which joined Formula 1 in 2010 and signed a contract with Toyota over the summer, is now left with no source of cars for the 2011 season. "All cooperation with Hispania has been terminated," affirmed Toyota in a public statement.
While the auto company said that it regrets the team’s inability to pay, it does not plan to deliver any product to the team. "Toyota retains all intellectual property rights to its current F1 car and is completely free to pursue other projects and support
new customers for its high-performance engineering services".
Hispania expressed surprise at the decision noting in its own statement that, "the matter needs to be clarified. Technical chief Geoff Willis refused to comment when BBC sport requested further details, saying that the company is waiting to hear from team’s
owners.
The team’s majority shareholder, Jose Ramon Carabante called it a, "crucial week, deciding the future of the team."
Formula 1 driver Pedro de la Rosa has reportedly expressed interest in joining the team but is being asked to pitch in some of his own money.
"He needs to contribute about eight or ten million. We have spoken with companies to try to attract sponsors, and we would like to have two Spanish drivers for our identity and someone like Pedro who can give us some direction for 2012," Carabante told Cadena
Ser radio.
The car that Toyota had been developing for Hispania was built to resemble the TF1-10, but the production was cut short when the team pulled out of Formula 1. The Cologne-based factory had already finished aerodynamic and tunnel work on the car.
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