Mosley Pays Tribute to Toyota

FIA's President Max Mosley attended the launch of the new Toyota Formula One car on Friday, along with Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone, and Mosley paid tribute to Japanese manufacturer's effort to get into the sport.

"I want to welcome Toyota into Formula One for the 2002 season," said Mosley. "This is an historic day. It says two things about Toyota -- for the first time in the modern era we will have a major manufacturer in Formula One and they will be doing everything themselves.

"That is an extraordinary achievement and shows their self-confidence that in the full glare of the public they have decided to go into one of the most demanding sports. That is very courageous.

"It is a high risk project, but the company have thought about and researched the value of Formula One as a technical and marketing exercise."

Toyota will use the Paul Ricard circuit as their main testing circuit, with Finn Mika Salo expected to carry out work there while Briton Allan McNish tests at other European circuits throughout the year.