Toyota's Fuji circuit may pull plug on Japanese GP (Recession's effect on motor-racing)

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - Toyota's Fuji Speedway circuit is considering giving up next year's Formula One Japanese Grand Prix to cut costs.

A spokesman for the world's biggest automaker Toyota said on Friday that Fuji were weighing up their options as motor racing continued to feel the pinch of the global economic crisis.

(snip)

Toyota earlier this month forecast an $8.6 billion annual loss, leaving it desperately trying to cut costs in the grip of a severe market downturn.

Japan's number two carmaker Honda pulled its team out of Formula One last December, while Subaru and Suzuki quit the world rally championship and bike maker Kawasaki scrapped its MotoGP team.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST2753020090529

[FSogol]

1. I hope they can manage to keep those racing models that wear the short skirts.

:cry:

[Coventina]

2. Sorry, no race = no grid girls!

:hug:

[DJ13]

3. Toyota deny Fuji will be dropped

Toyota have denied reports that they are set to withdraw their Fuji Speedway circuit from the 2010 Formula One calendar.

The Fuji circuit, owned by Toyota, is down to host next year's Japanese GP as part of a race-sharing deal with the Honda-owned Suzuka track.

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Toyota, though, have denied the reports, saying they have no intention of withdrawing Fuji from the F1 calendar.

"At Fuji Speedway, we are making preparations to host F1 next year," a Toyota spokesman told AFP.

"There is no truth to the report that we were considering withdrawing from hosting it."

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5353622,00.html