AUGUST 2, 1999

Toyota comes clean

TOYOTA has stopped hiding behind recruitment companies and anonymous post office box numbers and is advertising for Formula 1 staff in the specialist press all over Europe. The company says it is seeking a variety of engineers and technicians to be part of its Formula 1 team, which will be based in Cologne, Germany.

There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks that Toyota might be talked into reconsidering its F1 plans following British American Tobacco's deal with Honda which will see the tobacco giant paying the car company to develop factory engines. This resulted in Honda cancelling plans to start its own team.

Toyota has always said that money is not an issue as if it comes to F1 it will do so with a complete team, with the intention of using the sport as a way of training staff, advancing technology and selling cars by improving the company's image.