Andersson Claims Toyota are Being Shunned

Toyota boss Ove Andersson has claimed that his Formula One team are being shunned by their rivals ahead of the Japanese manufacturer's entry in Grand Prix racing.

Toyota, the world's third biggest car manufacturer, is due to make its debut in Formula One in 2002, and Andersson says his outfit are not welcome and are being ignored by most of the current teams.

"We are not welcome in Formula One and none of the other teams will have us as a member of their little club," Andersson told Motorsport Aktuell. "The only ones who were positive about it were FIA president Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone.

"They (the teams) are not 'available' as they call it, when I phone them. The only ones I had contact with were Eddie Jordan and Jean Todt, who are old friends."

Some members of the paddock are believed to be annoyed by Toyota's attempts to lure key staff from other teams like they did earlier this season with Minardi's technical director Gustav Brunner, who broke his contract with the Italian outfit before it expired.

Andersson, who was accused of travelling to the Australian Grand Prix this season in order to recruit new members from other teams, said there was no reason for other teams to be unhappy with his tactics, being a common thing in Formula One.

"Why should I do that in front of everyone?" Andersson added. "It would have been much cheaper to call those people than to fly to Australia. There is no reason to be angry with us. Other teams do exactly the same."