Toyota will stay in NASCAR next year despite pulling the plug on its Formula One operation earlier this month.
The Japanese automotive giant cited the current economic conditions as there reason for leaving the sport but maintains there will be no changes to their programme in the US stock car series.
"It should have no effect whatsoever on our NASCAR programme, our NASCAR plans and our NASCAR future." said Toyota Racing Development's president Lee White. "We remain completely committed to NASCAR and NASCAR is completely committed to us."
The news comes days after the Toyota confirmed its Cologne-based Formula One operation was not for sale. Toyota Motorsport president John Howett confirmed to The Times that a Brawn/Honda style buy-out was not likely. "I think it has already been discussed and rejected," Howett said. "Maybe these ideas can be reopened but, at the moment, it would appear not."
Whether the extensive facilities and 650 personnel at Toyota's F1 headquarters will be deployed for other purposes within the company's motorsport division remains unclear.
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