F1 Toyota may return to F1 under Lexus banner

[JHF]

A new report in from the website Club Lexus claims to have insider knowledge about a return to Formula Oneracing by Toyota, this time under the auspices of the Lexus brand. Toyota competed in F1 from 2002 through the 2009 season. That final year saw the team return competitive, if inconsistent results, but the larger economic woes in the automotive market made a decision to pull the plug relatively easy at the time.

Now, citing recent interviews with Toyota executives and insider sources, Club Lexus says that the move to re-enter F1 for the 2014 season is "all but finalized." The choice to go with the Lexus nameplate over Toyota makes some sense, too, considering the success that rival Infiniti has had in recent years through its partnership with Red Bull Racing. Further, the emerging Lexus identity as a performance car builder, with a strong background in hybrid vehicles, could help the F1 move resonate with buyers.

A few technological factors and formula changes within F1 offer some credence to the Lexus rumor, too. F1 will increase the available capacity of KERS from 60kW to 120kW, a change that theoretically benefits the hybrid-savvy Toyota. What's more, 2014 will see a switch from the current 2.4-liter V8 engines to 1.6-liter turbocharged V6s. A Lexus team that goes racing in 2014 will be on a level playing field with the rest of the grid then, with all teams adjusting to and continuing to develop the new engines.
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/toyota-may-return-to-f1-under-lexus-banner/
http://www.clublexus.com/articles/n...ota-lexus-to-re-enter-formula-one-in-2014.php

 

[deity]

Not a bad marketing decision. Especially now that Lexus is pushing driving dynamics.

 

[Will]

I'm interested in what livery they will use, colour wise

 

[LaArtist]

^Champagne/gold

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

If they had any sense they would have been under the Lexus banner in the first place.

The marketing decisions made by some car companies is baffling.

 

[330CIZHP]

The F1 factory was still operational until recently and was used for building and testing the Lexus LFA V10 so I could imagine the same factory being used.

 

[Monster]

Toyota's wind tunnel is still state of the art, and it is being used by both Ferrari and Mclaren. Toyota might as well return to F1 and reuse their own facilities.

 

[330CIZHP]

Toyota's wind tunnel is still state of the art, and it is being used by both Ferrari and Mclaren. Toyota might as well return to F1 and reuse their own facilities.

Wind tunnel at TMG GMBH is still getting used for the LFA GT racing car aerodynamic testing for 2013 endurance racing series.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

The F1 factory was still operational until recently and was used for building and testing the Lexus LFA V10 so I could imagine the same factory being used.

you mean the one in Koln, Germany?

 

[330CIZHP]

you mean the one in Koln, Germany?

Actually there is one in Japan as well. It was being used as part of the building and testing process for the LFA V10. It was featured in the NG Mega factories.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

hmmm, I saw that too. I can't remember it.