Bridgestone upset by Toyota tests

Teams are not allowed to test at a circuit less than three weeks before it is due to hold a Grand Prix. But Toyota, which has a deal with Michelin, tested at Spa just over two weeks before the Belgian GP as it gears up for an assault on next year's F1 World Championship.

Bridgestone has expressed its disapproval of Toyota being allowed to test so close to the Belgian race as it believes it could give Michelin an advantage.

"I am not comfortable with it because I think they got some advantage from running at Spa," Bridgestone's technical manager Hisao Suganuma told this week's Autosport magazine. "Although Toyota might not be at the top level, Michelin can still evaluate between different specifications. I think they can get basic information.

"It is a very unfortunate situation for us, but it is difficult to stop them - not only at Spa, but also after the end of the season."

Toyota has caused further ructions along the pitlane by insisting that it intends to continue testing through the winter, despite a testing ban from the last race at Suzuka until the end of December, because that is when its Formula 1 entry becomes official.

Rival teams, however, believe that as the Japanese marque has agreed to enter the championship, so the team must abide by the rules. Toyota in fact decided to enter F1 in 1999 and was due to compete this year, but decided it was not ready and paid a £12 million forfeit to postpone its entry until 2002.

"I presume in 2002 they intend to race," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis. "On November 15, entry for the world championship closes and it is my interpretation that you are bound by the Concorde Agreement [the document which governs Formula1] from that moment. And within that are commitments to abide by the sporting regulations, which contain the testing prohibitions through to January 1. I think the situation is clear."