*** Toyota returns to Formula One as Haas partner | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Toyota returns to Formula One as Haas partner

AFP | Washington, United States                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: hussainm@newsobahrain.com

Toyota announced their return to Formula One yesterday following a 15-year absence, signing a technical partnership with US team Haas.

The Japanese manufacturers spent eight seasons in Formula One before leaving at the end of 2009 with a record of 13 podium finishes and no Grand Prix wins.

Haas, currently seventh in the 10-team constructor standings, said Toyota would provide “design, technical and manufacturing services”.

The team said their cars would feature Toyota branding at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, later this month. Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda said that he “had finally gotten back to being an ordinary older guy who loves cars”.

“I think that, somewhere deep in his heart, that ordinary older car-loving guy Akio Toyoda had always regretted having blocked -- by pulling out of F1 -- Japanese youths’ path toward driving the world’s fastest cars,” he said.