• 2010 season

Toyota remains involved on the sidelines

Toyota may have withdrawn from Formula One but it remains involved on the sidelines.

Stefan GP, the Serbian firm which was looking to fill the vacancy left by US F1, had an agreement to purchase Toyota's 2010 cars but that deal now appears to have lapsed after the FIA refused to fast-track it onto the grid. Reports suggest the equipment which was taken to Bahrain for use by Stefan has now been returned to Japan.

But Toyota announced last week its F1 factory had entered "a new era", with 200 staff still on site to serve "external clients". As well as a driver simulator with "14 laser-mapped circuits", Toyota is offering for use its CFD capabilities, two wind tunnels, manufacturing machines and test rigs. "We are excited by the challenges our various clients will bring us in 2010 and beyond," said executive vice president Yoshiaki Kinoshita.

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber's Japanese Toyota-backed driver, learned the layout of the Albert Park circuit last week on the "Toyota simulator".

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