Toyota may return to F1 under Lexus banner

A new report in from the website Club Lexus claims to have insider knowledge about a return to Formula One racing 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/t...-lexus-banner/

 

This is bloody hilarious

 

Wait, the source is CL, I don't recall someone talking about this recently. Was it from the distant past or other section other than car chat?

 

its April 1st article on front page of CL:.. a joke :-)


of course, AB being real journalists got it... lol.

 

-_- I just figured that out. Oh well, AB...

 

Hahaha ...

 

Anything is possible. The engine regulations are in line with what could be used for LeMans in 2014. The FIA wants to attract more manufacturers to F1 and build engines. Currently you have Cosworth Renault Ferrari and Mercedes. That's pretty slim. Honda are rumored to be entering in 2015, Infinity (Nissan Renault) is with Red Bull. So Toyota following isn't out of the question.