Toyota leaves the GPMA

The Japanese car maker, which was one of five members of the GPMA, said the body had already achieved its objectives.

The GPMA was set up by Formula One's manufacturers who were seeking a bigger share of the sports' revenues, and the body finally signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the commercial rights holder recently.

"Toyota believes that the GPMA is currently focused more on operational details rather than the long-term strategic outlook for the future technology of Formula One," the team said.

The Japanese manufacturer said it is leaving the GPMA in order to "avoid inhibiting activities which the majority of other members may wish to pursue."

Autosport.com understands that Toyota has made the move because it does not believe the current state of conflict between the FIA and the GPMA is productive, and the Japanese manufacturer would rather work in collaboration with the governing body on plans for the sport's future.

However, sources emphasize that F1 manufacturers will continue to collaborate and Toyota said it did not rule a return once the current climate changes.

Apart from Toyota, the GPMA groups Renault, BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Honda.

"We appreciate the contribution of the GPMA to date, but now it is important for us to shift our efforts and focus on our own sporting development," said Toyota's team principal Tsutomu Tomita.

"Toyota's position has already been put forward in the past: we want to retain F1 as the pinnacle of motorsport, to keep the technical challenge by not imposing unnatural restrictions on the technology used in F1 car development, to continue to attract and provide excitement to fans and importantly to adopt a positive attitude towards independent teams through offering technical support and supplying engines.

"At the same time we cannot forget that all cars makers are making significant investments to protect the global environment and F1 manufacturers should actively propose concrete technical rules that lead the FIA in this direction."

Although Toyota has not yet signed the new commercial agreement from 2008 to 2012, the company said it will still committed to Formula One until 2012.

"This commitment is underlined by Toyota's current supply of engines to Midland and its future engagement to supply engines to Williams F1 for the coming three years," the statement added.

"Toyota believes that engine supply to private teams should be a central pillar of the objectives of those manufacturers' competing in F1."