Toyota became the second major Japanese car manufacturer to quit F1. We have been anticipating Toyota’s withdrawal from F1 for quite some time but were waiting for the car honcho to declare it officially. Toyota Motor Corporation has announced its plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula 1 World Championship at the end of the 2009 season because of its ‘current severe economic realities’. The latest pullout would be yet another blow to Formula One, which is already bogged down by scandals, disputes and falling number of sponsorships. Toyota’s association with Formula One began in 2002 and it had raced for eight seasons. The Toyota F1 team competed in 141 F1 races and accomplished 13 podium finishes. The team could never manage to win a race during its tenure with F1 despite having an annual budget of around US$300 million. But the Toyota F1 team was fifth in the 2009 Constructors’ Championship. Toyota’s season promised much after long-term driver Jarno Trulli finished third in the opening race of the season in Australia and followed that with another third in Bahrain, after starting race four from pole position. His team-mate Timo Glock also stood on the podium after finishing third in the rain-affected second race of the season in Malaysia. But neither driver would reach the podium again until race 14 when Glock finished second behind Britain’s Lewis Hamilton in Singapore, equaling the team’s best finish to a race. One week later, in early October, Trulli also came second at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi joined Trulli, who finished the season eighth in the standings, for the final two races of the season after Glock. Trulli is tipped to join Lotus while Glock is expected to move to Renault later this week but Kobayashi’s future is less clear. Germany’s Ralf Schumacher, France’s Olivier Panis and Britain’s Allan McNish have also all driven for Toyota over the years. Toyota noted that it would actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate. Now, the world’s largest car manufacturer will concentrate on its core business. We guess it’s all about making hybrids and electric cars now!