Embattled F1 teams Jordan and Minardi have concluded deals with Toyota and Cosworth respectively for the supply of engines during next year’s grand prix season.
Embattled F1 teams Jordan and Minardi have concluded deals with Toyota and Cosworth respectively for the supply of engines during next year’s grand prix season.
Toyota announced that Jordan had signed a one-year deal to buy a supply of 2005-spec Toyota RVX-05 engines.
“The move to a two-race engine and the recent planned reduction of testing for next year have contributed considerably to making this deal possible,” said Toyota Motorsport GmbH chairman and team principal of the works team Tsutomu Tomita.
“We are pleased to be able to offer our services to help another team, given the difficulties that Formula One is currently facing, particularly with engine supply. I sincerely hope that the Toyota RVX-05 engine will be a substantial asset to the Jordan team in the coming season,” the Nippon added.
The agreement between Toyota Motorsport and Irishman Eddie Jordan’s team will not result in a re-branding of the Silverstone-based cars and the Japanese marque’s name and logo will not be used in conjunction with those of Jordan Grand Prix. Jordan is developing an interim chassis that will accept the Toyota engine and is scheduled to test the EJ14 in Jerez next month.
“Toyota are to be commended,” said Jordan. “Not only have they been fantastic to Jordan by agreeing to this deal at such short notice, but they have also done the magnanimous thing for the sport by putting Formula One above their own exclusivity.
“A supply of Toyota engines is an enormous boost for Jordan. This announcement, along with others coming shortly, will revive the fortunes of Jordan Grand Prix and I hope we can help Toyota in the battle for World Championship honours,” he added.
And following news that Cosworth had been bought by Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, co-owners of the Champ Car World Series and heads of the PKV and Forsythe Championship Racing Champ Car teams, respectively, the Faenza-based Minardi F1 Team confirmed it will use the Cosworth TJ engine next year.
The TJ 90-degree V10 engine is the same powerplant that will power the new Red Bull Racing squad next year and should provide an enormous performance boost for Minardi.
However, due to the timing of the announcement, the Italian team hopes to race its 2004 car and engine package for the first three races of the new season. The squad will need the agreement of the remaining nine teams to do so, reported.
