Prodrive to run Toyota TRD

[sbutler]

Dont know if this has been posted up before, but anyway what do ya make if it? :togo:

http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/car-review/1884207.aspx

[Pedro]

I think it's part of the first step of Toyota's plan to enter V8 Supercar.

They are very patient in achieving their goals as can be seen by their achievement in gaining entry to NASCAR next year with a very professional team run by the Red Bull F1 organisation.

Their "Camry" will be driven initially by Bill Elliot and then by 2003 Busch series champion Brian Vickers.

[marcosambrose]

Toyota Aurion V8 supercar here we come...

[Phoon Hoon]

Are they being "contracted" by Toyota to run TRD? The difference is, of course, that they actually own a majority share of FPV.

[ClevlndStemer]

I knew TRD would be a threat but jeez this is a suprise.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Pedro

I think it's part of the first step of Toyota's plan to enter V8 Supercar.

They are very patient in achieving their goals as can be seen by their achievement in gaining entry to NASCAR next year with a very professional team run by the Red Bull F1 organisation.

Their "Camry" will be driven initially by Bill Elliot and then by 2003 Busch series champion Brian Vickers.

The rules clearly state you can only enter V8SC if you have a large Australian made sedan with a V8 engine and RWD. Until they do or the rules are changed it can never happen. Ford and Holden will make sure of it, but then again I don't think Toyota are really that interested anyway.

[XR8putts]

I wouldn't worry about Toyota entering the V8s.

Even if it did happen, they wouldn't last, V8Supercar fans such as myself would go nuts, and would not stay silent in out discust.

I for one would be at Pukekohe (or wherever the NZ round would be) with all my mates decked out in "***** OFF TOYOTA" banners, clothing and verbal abuse.

Untill Toyota release a large volume RWD V8 in Australia (and NZ) they will not be welcome in the V8Supercar series.

Besides Lowndes, Winterbottom and Whincup would annialate the bastards on the track. The ammount of abuse Toyota would get from Ford and Holden fans alike would be bloody funny to see tho.

[sbutler]

I wouldn't be to worried about Toyota in V8 supercar. I would be interested to see if FPV & TRD would share info, seeing there gonna be run by the same mob. Thats more worring than V8 supercar, because they will never get there, they dont fit the rules in any way shape or form, so that wont happen.

[Rev28K]

If a company ponied up enough money (i.e. bribe) I am sure that the rules could be changed. We all know that the difference between the current race cars and road cars is more than just the stickers.

Prodrive have their fingers in a lot of pies at the moment (like TWR used to) – FPV, racing Astons and Ferraris at Le Mans, Subaru rally/road cars, their ex-Honda BAR F1 link (Dave Richards is looking to get back in at some stage), etc, etc. I can see why they would want to get a tie in with the world’s richest car company. They had better have a good engine program for V8 supercars though as they cant just buy them of SBR if the engines that they developed don’t cut the mustard.

[xbgs351]

Will they be selling perfomance parts for 2T-C, 3T-C, 4AG etc motors?

[BJ]

Originally Posted by puts99

I wouldn't worry about Toyota entering the V8s.

Even if it did happen, they wouldn't last, V8Supercar fans such as myself would go nuts, and would not stay silent in out disgust.

I for one would be at Pukekohe (or wherever the NZ round would be) with all my mates decked out in "***** OFF TOYOTA" banners, clothing and verbal abuse.

Until Toyota release a large volume RWD V8 in Australia (and NZ) they will not be welcome in the V8Supercar series.

Besides Lowndes, Winterbottom and Whincup would anialate the bastards on the track. The amount of abuse Toyota would get from Ford and Holden fans alike would be bloody funny to see tho.

You tool. Do you think that the governing body avesco is carried by people like you and your mates. I think it is a great idea. Besides if you were to look at the sales figure for Toyota you would see that in some class's they are out selling Ford and Holden. I just hope they use the LEXUS and reality show how it's done. I also think you might be surprised on how high the fans of motor sport would welcome this. Bj

[vztrt]

I think this would be happening more on the fact that Prodrive will have a F1 team.

[FPV]

Originally Posted by vztrt

I think this would be happening more on the fact that Prodrive will have a F1 team.

Well since toyota have there own F1 team, i didnt really think they would base a prodrive partnership on having an F1 team. Anyway it is only a contract as others have posted while prodrive own 51 per cent of FPV. Previously in another thread FPV's Prodrive-Ford partnership was under speculation and someone suggested that there contract would expire. Well if you look in the news archive the FPV contract will be up for negotiation as of 2008.

But anyway i think this won't really have much of an effect on FPV, Ford and Prodrive have worked well together and i would think they would continue as it is now. Why is toyota always somehow in connection with the Ford factory performance arm? I remember way back in the 90's, the motor magazine or another magazine had a rumour that Tickford would start tuning Camrys.

[Phoon Hoon]

Don't sweat it. Camry drivers are boring old farts who wear beige cardigans. The TRD market is aimed squarely at getting Mr and Mrs Plain-Jane to the local bowls club faster than their neighbours so that they can get the best bingo seat.

[Pedro]

[QUOTE=sbutler]I wouldn't be to worried about Toyota in V8 supercar. I would be interested to see if FPV & TRD would share info, seeing there gonna be run by the same mob. Thats more worring than V8 supercar, because they will never get there, they dont fit the rules in any way shape or form, so that wont happen.[/QUOTE]

Steve, The Camrys sold in the US are nearly the same as those sold here, but that didn't stop Toyota entering NASCAR with a rear drive V8 silhouette Camry. Same as V8 Supercar Holdens and Fords are really only silhouettes ala NASCAR.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by puts99

Untill Toyota release a large volume RWD V8 in Australia (and NZ) they will not be welcome in the V8Supercar series.

They already do - they have two. Lexus GS430 and LS430. The question is whether toyota will push the lexus brand into it (legally, as Lexus is a subsidiary company), or go in half/half (Toyota sponsored lexus team?), or just go in as Lexus.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by FPV

Well since toyota have there own F1 team, i didnt really think they would base a prodrive partnership on having an F1 team. Anyway it is only a contract as others have posted while prodrive own 51 per cent of FPV. Previously in another thread FPV's Prodrive-Ford partnership was under speculation and someone suggested that there contract would expire. Well if you look in the news archive the FPV contract will be up for negotiation as of 2008.

But but I doubt both teams would waste their time with V8 supercars as it's smallfry compared to F1.
There was an interview with the CEO of Prodrive and he was saying that they are now entering F1 properly because they changed rules will be able to make them a profit. I'm pretty sure the partnership will be more F1 motivated than anything else.

[FPV]

Originally Posted by vztrt

But but I doubt both teams would waste their time with V8 supercars as it's smallfry compared to F1.
There was an interview with the CEO of Prodrive and he was saying that they are now entering F1 properly because they changed rules will be able to make them a profit. I'm pretty sure the partnership will be more F1 motivated than anything else.

Yeah your right, Toyota will be marketing there aurion as if its an f1 car for the roads, i just thought they would rather market the aurion together with there own F1 team, rather then the Prodrive F1 team.

[blutura]

Originally Posted by Pedro

I think it's part of the first step of Toyota's plan to enter V8 Supercar.

Damn I hope so. The best thing that could happen to V8 Supercars is that they let Toyota (and Chrysler) into the competition.

Screw the stupid 'Must be locally produced, high volume, RWD V8' rules.

V8 Supercars has become dull and boring and needs shaking up. 2 years ago I watched every round of the V8's and went to both the Queensland races. Last year I watched about 2/3rds of the races and only went to the Queensland 300 round. This year I've so far only watched 2 rounds and I'm not planning on going to any of the races this year.

AVESCO has screwed the competition by turning it into a NASCAR clone. I'd love to see the V8s turn into a 4 manufacturer series.

[sbutler]

I wonder if there gonna call it TPV Toyota??

[sbutler]

Some may find this very interesting!!

Prodrive's Toyota deal not a problem, says FPV
FORD Performance Vehicles managing director Sak Ryopponen is adamant the recent appointment of Prodrive, which owns FPV jointly with Ford Australia, to assemble vehicles under the Toyota Racing Development banner will have no impact on the Blue Oval tuning department's future model plans.

"It (Prodrive's TRD involvement) is actually only an assembly operation," he said. "There is no engineering or product development work involved - it's purely an assembly contract.

"There'll be a factory, cars will come in, they'll take bumpers and bits and pieces off and put new ones on again and that's the extent of their technical involvement.

"Getting a contract like that is consistent with Prodrive's previously stated aim of growing within the region and this is just an extension of doing that.

"If it had been an engineering type contract we wouldn't have been concerned because in today's motor industry it's not unusual to have a supplier working with a number of manufacturers - it happens all over the world. Prodrive is a company with integrity that has a number of clients all over the world."

Mr Ryopponen said confidentiality agreements would prevent information exchange between FPV and TRD, which are both now Prodrive clients.

"There are process in place that are very strictly adhered to. Conversely, I can't find out from Prodrive what they might be doing with Toyota or anybody else. I was cheeky enough to ask some questions in that regard but they refused to answer them."



__________________

[turboute]

Personally I am looking forward to a supercharged Hilux

- maybe they could enter in a Hilux into the V8 brutes...

(waits for idea to get flamed...)

[MRJUCY]

Makes me even prouder to drive a Tickford, none of this white goods stuff in their day :nutsycuck

[sbutler]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

Makes me even prouder to drive a Tickford, none of this white goods stuff in their day :nutsycuck

Sad but true, thats how its starting to look.. :nutsycuck