Toyota Willing to Sell Engines from 2005

Toyota would be willing to sell their Formula One engines to rival teams from 2005 but not before then, team boss Ove Andersson said today.

"If someone would like to use our engine from 2005, then we will try to be in a position to sell it on a commercial basis," he said. "Not next year. It is not possible. But we would like to support Formula One to bring ourselves into a position where we can sell our engine to another team."

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) expects manufacturers to make engines available to any independent teams that want them at affordable prices next season. In exchange, the FIA has agreed that electronic traction control systems can remain in use.

A figure of $10 million has been suggested for an engine supply but Andersson said that was too low and agreed with Renault's Patrick Faure that $15 million would be more realistic. Renault have also ruled out supplying engines to any other team next year, when rules change and each one must last an entire weekend.

The Swede also said that Toyota was unlikely to join the GPWC, a company set up by European carmakers to pave the way for their own series from 2008 if they fail to reach a deal with Formula One's commercial rights holders for more revenue.

"Toyota has never been really interested in joining the GPWC," he said. "The offer is there, at the moment I don't think Toyota believes that manufacturers should run the competition. We believe that there should be an independent organisation that runs the races."