Grapevine: Toyota Heading for Test Row

The Toyota Formula One team seem to be heading towards a major controversy as the Japanese outfit could be planning to keep on testing their car during the November test ban.

Toyota are due to make their Formula One debut in 2002 after spending this season developing their first prototype car with drivers Mika Salo and Allan McNish travelling to most Grand Prix circuits in Europe.

Following claims from team boss Ove Andersson that they are "not welcome" in Formula One, the Cologne-based outfit look set to upset the current teams, who after the last Grand Prix of the season will not be able to test until December.

All new competitors must register for the Championship before November 15, and Toyota could wait until that day to test during the first part of the month. Some teams have already complained about Toyota planning to test in November, claiming that they should follow the same rules as all the participants in the 2002 season.

"Once Toyota's entry for next year's World Championship is accepted it is in the same contractual situation and is obliged to abide by the same rules and obligations as everybody else," McLaren's managing director Martin Whitmarsh was quoted as saying on Autosport's website.

"If, as it seems, the rules allow them to do it then let them get on with it," McLaren boss Ron Dennis added. "But it certainly shows a distinct lack of fair play, and it has got nothing to do with the fierce, but loyal spirit of competition I expect from teams in Formula One."

Toyota were already criticised by some team bosses earlier this year after they hired Minardi's technical director Gustav Brunner before his contract expired.