Toyota decision imminent
Rumours at the 555 China Rally suggest that Toyota will announce their future rallying plans within the next month
There has been strong speculation that the Japanese company will focus all its efforts on a Formula One programme and may scrap the WRC project.
Toyota's Didier Auriol is currently second in the drivers' standings and the team lead the manufacturers' class, despite having not taken an overall victory since New Zealand in July 1998.
The team only returned to rallying in mid-1997, having been forced to take a two-year break after being found guilty of cheating. Although the Toyota Corolla was initially seen to be setting new standards for modern rally cars, it has only won twice since then and may have been overcome somewhat by the pace of development.
Toyota is expected to enter Formula One sometime between 2001 and 2003, running their own factory team. Most of the speculation in recent months has suggested that Toyota Team Europe will abandon all other projects to focus on F1.
If the team decide not to continue their rally programme beyond 2000, lead driver Carlos Sainz is expected to look for a new home, possibly at SEAT.
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