Toyota axes rally team

MOTORSPORT continues to be battered by the global automotive downturn, with Toyota Australia adding to the woes by last night cancelling its successful Australian Rally Championship program.

In the past few months, both Ford and Holden have cut back their support of V8 Supercar racing in Australia, Honda has abandoned its massive Formula One program, Subaru dumped its long-standing world rally team, Suzuki also dropped its WRC program and Audi has drastically cut back its sportscar program.

As well as cutting its long-running Australian operation, Toyota officials overseas have flagged budget cutbacks for its NASCAR teams in the US and have made it clear that its massively expensive and underperforming F1 team could be axed if it fails to finally win a grand prix this year.

Left: Neal Bates and Coral Taylor.

Toyota Australia had backed the Canberra-based operation of Neal Bates for almost two decades, winning the Australian Rally Championship six times, including the past three – twice by Simon Evans and last year by Bates, who previously won three titles in the 1990s.

The sudden axing of the team – which operated under the TRD name – follows the recent closure of Toyota Australia’s special vehicles road car operation.

Toyota was the last surviving manufacturer-backed team at the pointy end of the ARC, which in the past five years has seen the disappearance of works teams from Mitsubishi, Subaru and Ford.

Toyota Australia senior executive director David Buttner said the decision not to contest the championship had not been taken lightly because of the strong bond with Bates and his crew.

“The decision was made incredibly difficult because there was emotion, enthusiasm and friendship involved,” Mr Buttner said in a press statement issued last night.

“It is not a reflection on the performance of Neal Bates and his team and it is important to recognise the brilliant contribution made by every team member.”

Bates has been retained as a Toyota ambassador, “with a range of opportunities to represent it in the community”, but is now faced with a last-minute search for sponsorship in order to mount a title defence this year.

The four-time national champion owns the S2000 rally Corollas and even built a new car during the off-season, but faces a huge task finding suitable backing in the current economic environment.

“Neal is a legend for Toyota and in Australian motorsport,” said Mr Buttner. “In appointing Neal an ambassador, we have indicated our desire to continue our 20-year relationship.”

Bates was discovered by Toyota in a talent search competition in 1989 and two years later was competing in the Australian Rally Championship in a Celica GT-Four with Toyota support. He and co-driver Coral Taylor won three successive national titles in 1993-1995 and a fourth last year.