Toyota signs multi-year F1 tyre deal with Bridgestone

Tokyo -- Toyota Motorsport has announced that it has signed a multi-year deal with Bridgestone Motorsport which will see the Japanese tyre manufacturer supply the Panasonic Toyota Racing team with Potenza Formula 1 tyres with immediate effect.

Chairman of Toyota Motorsport and Team Principal of Panasonic Toyota Racing, Tsutomu Tomita said of the announcement: It is a pleasure to announce that Toyota Motorsport and Bridgestone Motorsport have joined forces. I am sure that our two companies will share a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship over the coming years in Formula 1. After a rather successful 2005 season, our sights are now set even higher up the grid and we feel that Bridgestone is ideally suited to the technical demands of F1 in the future and will be the best match for our 2006 car. Toyota is serious about winning in Formula 1 and we feel that the switch to Bridgestone tyres is the best option in the medium-long term.”

The Toyota team has run on Michelin tyres for the last two seasons, but the switch to Bridgestone was flagged in September of this year.

Panasonic Toyota Racing's first test on Bridgestone tyres will begin at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on 29 November 2005.

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Press release from Toyota F1

Toyota F1 confirm switch to Bridgestone tyres Reuters (S Africa)

Toyota confirm switch to Bridgestone tyre Reuters (UK)