Mike Gascoyne leaves Toyota

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:31 pm

In a shock piece of news from Europe, Mike Gascoyne appears to have left the Toyota team.

The Cologne based squad's widely rated technical director, who switched from Renault in 2003, could be the first high-profile casualty of the Japan-owned carmaker's poor start to the 2006 F1 season.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the 43-year-old Brit is part of a bigger reshuffle within the 5-year-old team, which has arguably the sport's biggest budget, with Pascal Vasselon tipped to take over Gascoyne's job.

It was also reported that Gascoyne - whose contract expires at the end of this year - was not happy at Toyota, after clashes with senior management and extreme pressure to put a red and white car on the top step of the podium.

Website grandprix.com reportedly phoned Gascoyne, who offered a terse 'no comment', while autosport.com claimed that the Toyota PR people were not reachable by phone or mobile.

Now this is shocking

Snowy · Post by **Snowy** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:08 pm

Your not kidding! This has been the problem with Toyota throughout their career in F1. They have a blame culture and are unlikely to succeed IMHO. giving your chassis desgner one season to build a winnig car is beyond stupid

It's totaly toyota! They stuffed Mika Salo's career among others.

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:01 am

Snowy wrote:Your not kidding! This has been the problem with Toyota throughout their career in F1. They have a blame culture and are unlikely to succeed IMHO.

I have to agree, but perhaps for a different reason.

Toyota, like Ford, has always wanted to be successful in motor sports, but has always pulled the rug out from under their own programs if car sales dipped. Toyota is doing well, but they didn't see the numbers they were looking for in the market place, so the (_x_) got tighter!

Honda takes a different tact with its team, and will be successful by years end at scoring a victory.

Plus Toyota has won in the IRL very quickly, and they are moving into NASCAR next year. They are probably tiring of F1 rules and politics.

Chris

Ed · Post by Ed » Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:56 pm

Toyota have confirmed that they have reached a mutual agreement with Technical Director Mike Gascoyne to terminate their working relationship with immediate effect. Gascoyne will remain fully contracted to Toyota until the end of October 2006. (i.e. he cannot start working with any other team until the 1st of November 2006)

Mike Gascoyne said:

Obviously, it is the end of an era but nobody can dispute that Toyota has made a big step forward over the last two seasons. We have now reached a crossroads in our working relationship and I believe that it is the right time for us to part ways amicably and for me to move back to the UK where I can also enjoy spending more time with my family. I extend my thanks to all members of the team and wish them a successful future in Formula 1.

Tsutomu Tomita, Chairman of Toyota Motorsport said

Although we have reached a joint decision to go our separate ways, I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to Mike for the indisputable contribution he has made to our team over the last few years. This separation should in no way undermine the work he has done, nor reflect his technical expertise. We all wish him well for the future.

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:58 am

This doesn't surprise me at all.

Toyota were fighting for 3rd last year and were the first to have their new car ready yet in Bahrain they were alongside the Midlands. Both Toyota and Midland use the same engines and tyres so it has to be the chassis and drivers.
So Gascoyne is the first out, Trulli will be next then Ralf you watch

As for Gascoyne, I think he is good but over-rated. He has yet to produce a championship winning car. He had his best chance at Renault but the money attracted him to Toyota. Renault still won without him and Toyota, well this season seems to be a disaster for them and so Gascoyne is out. Interesting to see who he'll work for

Super Aguri maybe

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:54 pm

Rumours floating .. Gascoyne for Williams

Snowy · Post by **Snowy** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:36 pm

I heard that too

It must be just a rumour though, surely they haven't got enough money to pay his kind of wages

GhoGho · Post by **GhoGho** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:57 am

Kapel wrote:Rumours floating .. Gascoyne for Williams

Also Rumoured to be MF1! He did work there when it was still Jordan and not a backmarker!

Jim Watt · Post by **Jim Watt** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:53 am

Nothing makes me happier than seeing Corporate Types Swagger in F1! Ford almost destroyed what Jackie Stewart created. I still remember how I gagged when they badged his cars with that ridiculous Jaguar livery --and then set about making corporate noises about how much F1 meant to them and how they were seriously in for the long haul, etc, etc. meanwhile trying to cut corners everywhere they could.

Bobby Rahal, a nice man and an excellent racer got chewed up and spit out there and so did Niki Lauda, a less nice man and a more excellent driver. So it just goes to show you that F1 politics is minor league, like roadrunners against wile e. coyote compared to the big corporation sharks and hyenas.

I haven't cared so much about Toyota because the only car they're destroying is their own. And tho' I feel for J.T., I can't wring out a tear for way-overpaid little brother.

While I think about it, isn't it interesting that, after that terrible Jag livery, the second most stupid looking finish on the F1 line has been Toyota's?

Maybe there's a principle at work here; anyone got a theory? If so, then I am even more worried for Ron Dennis: the McLarens are beginning to look suspiciously frivolous, too.

On a more serious note, though, who is this Pascal Vasselon said to take Mike G.'s place as tech. director?

And why is he anxious to go fall on a samurai sword himself in the magical fullness of time

(ie. Next Fall when it is discovered that Toyota has clawed all the way to finishing a handful of points ahead of ... MF1? (I mean ersatz Jordan), Arrows? (excuse me, Super Aguri), Torro Rosso? (oops, Ex-Minardi), BMW/Sauber? (an actual manufacturer's team!), Honda? (I doubt it; I really doubt it!)

I expect Honda to kick Toyota's [whatever-it-is-in-Japanese] this year. And I don't expect anyone in Corporate Toyota to accept the blame for it.

I'll predict it. You heard it here first. Ralph's podium in Melborne won't be replicated for the next six or seven G.P.'s --unless, of course, something catastrophic happens to ALL of the regular top 5 (FA, KR, MS, GF & JB).

Jim

Jim Watt · Post by **Jim Watt** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:53 am

Nothing makes me happier than seeing Corporate Types Swagger in F1! Ford almost destroyed what Jackie Stewart created. I still remember how I gagged when they badged his cars with that ridiculous Jaguar livery --and then set about making corporate noises about how much F1 meant to them and how they were seriously in for the long haul, etc, etc. meanwhile trying to cut corners everywhere they could.

Bobby Rahal, a nice man and an excellent racer got chewed up and spit out there and so did Niki Lauda, a less nice man and a more excellent driver. So it just goes to show you that F1 politics is minor league, like roadrunners against wile e. coyote compared to the big corporation sharks and hyenas.

I haven't cared so much about Toyota because the only car they're destroying is their own. And tho' I feel for J.T., I can't wring out a tear for way-overpaid little brother.

While I think about it, isn't it interesting that, after that terrible Jag livery, the second most stupid looking finish on the F1 line has been Toyota's?

Maybe there's a principle at work here; anyone got a theory? If so, then I am even more worried for Ron Dennis: the McLarens are beginning to look suspiciously frivolous, too.

On a more serious note, though, who is this Pascal Vasselon said to take Mike G.'s place as tech. director?

And why is he anxious to go fall on a samurai sword himself in the magical fullness of time

(ie. Next Fall when it is discovered that Toyota has clawed all the way to finishing a handful of points ahead of ... MF1? (I mean ersatz Jordan), Arrows? (excuse me, Super Aguri), Torro Rosso? (oops, Ex-Minardi), BMW/Sauber? (an actual manufacturer's team!), Honda? (I doubt it; I really doubt it!)

I expect Honda to kick Toyota's [whatever-it-is-in-Japanese] this year. And I don't expect anyone in Corporate Toyota to accept the blame for it.

I'll predict it. You heard it here first. Ralph's podium in Melborne won't be replicated for the next six or seven G.P.'s --unless, of course, something catastrophic happens to ALL of the regular top 5 (FA, KR, MS, GF & JB).

Jim

GhoGho · Post by **GhoGho** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:02 am

Is there an echo in here?..........Is there an echo in here?..........Is there an echo in here?..........Is there an echo in here?

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:48 pm

Perhaps Toyota will content themselves with supplying engines to Williams/Toyota next season