Toyota chief suspended
Toyota have suspended technical director Mike Gascoyne indefinitely over a “fundamental difference of opinion”.
Gascoyne, a former Renault and Jordan technical chief, joined Toyota on a lucrative deal at the end of 2003 and was credited with inspiring a major breakthrough last year.
But the 43-year-old has been pushed to one side in a row over how the big-spending team is run, with Toyota enduring a miserable start to the season.
A statement read: “Due to a fundamental difference of opinion with regard to the technical operations of its Formula One team, Toyota Motorsport has suspended Mike Gascoyne until further notice.
“Toyota Motorsport will not make any additional comments on this matter at this time.”
Today’s news comes as a surprise despite Toyota’s struggles so far this term.
In 2005, the first season with a fully Gascoyne-planned car, Toyota claimed their first pole and podium positions and displayed signs of progress on their way to fourth in the constructors’ championship.
But this year has been a struggle for the Cologne-based team, who expected to be challenging for victories.
They were embarrassingly off the pace in Bahrain before only modest improvement in Malaysia.
Ralf Schumacher’s third place in Australia last weekend on Gascoyne’s 43rd birthday gave some respite but came about mainly due to fortuitous circumstances.
Schumacher’s lucky podium has lifted Toyota to seventh in the standings with seven points, although the German’s team-mate Jarno Trulli has yet to get off the mark.
