Breaking News: Mike Gascoyne leaves Toyota

• HENG@

  5 Apr 06, 04:34

  from www.itv-f1.com
  
  Mike Gascoyne has left his post as technical director for the Toyota Formula 1 team.
  
  The EnglishmanÂ’s exit is thought to be part of a major shake-up in the management and technical departments at the team, according to sources close to ITV-F1.com.
  
  The nature of GascoyneÂ’s departure remains undisclosed.
  
  He is believed to have been at odds with some of ToyotaÂ’s more senior decision-makers and was not expected to remain with the team beyond the end of his contract, which would have ended this year anyway.
  
  But the big-budget Cologne-based squad's shown poor form in 2006, relieved only by Ralf SchumacherÂ’s third place in last weekendÂ’s Australian Grand Prix, can not have helped matters.
  
  When asked for a quote by grandprix.com (which broke the story on Tuesday) Gascoyne would not comment.
  
  Toyota was also unavailable to make a statement on the story.
  
  It is unclear what the future holds for Gascoyne who remained UK-based throughout his tenure with the Japanese manufacturer.
  
  But after a successful career that has seen him turn around the fortunes of Jordan, Renault and to a lesser extent Toyota in the last ten years, Gascoyne, who has never overseen a world championship-winning campaign will likely consider F1 unfinished business.
  
• HENG@

  5 Apr 06, 18:16

  from www.itv-f1.com
  
  Gascoyne suspended says Toyota
  Wednesday, 05, April, 2006, 10:25
  
  Toyota has formally “suspended” its technical director Mike Gascoyne, a team spokesman confirmed to ITV-F1.com.
  
  “Due to a fundamental difference of opinion with regard to the technical operations of its Formula 1 team, Toyota Motorsport has suspended its Technical Director Chassis, Mike Gascoyne, until further notice,” said a team statement.
  
  “Toyota Motorsport will not make any additional comments on this matter at this time.”
  
  News of GascoyneÂ’s departure from Toyota broke on Tuesday afternoon.
  
  The team had endured a difficult start to the season, with Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli stuck in the midfield in Bahrain.
  
  But it appeared that Toyota had already turned the corner, with Schumacher finishing a competitive third in Melbourne.
  
  Gascoyne joined Toyota from Renault at the end of 2003.
  
  Many held him responsible for the progress that Toyota has made in recent seasons, particularly last year, when the big budget squad scored its first podium finishes and leapt from eighth to fourth in the constructorsÂ’ championship.
  
  His efforts with Jordan and Renault in recent years earned Gascoyne a reputation as a man who could turn around the fortunes of struggling teams.
  
  He has never seen a project through to world championship winning success, however.
  
  It is understood that tensions had grown between Gascoyne and ToyotaÂ’s senior management, and that he was unlikely to renew his contract when it expired at the end of 2006.
  
  Toyota has given no indication as to the identity of GascoyneÂ’s replacement.
  
  
• HENG@

  5 Apr 06, 18:17

  toyota suspends him??? wtf...
• Kuali Baba

  5 Apr 06, 22:37

  Patience is hard to come by in the world these days. I wonder if BMW, Mercedes and co will be bidding for his services shortly.