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FANS VIEW: Mike Gascoyne's Departure
By TTF1 April 6 2006
Since the shocking news that Mike Gascoyne has left the Toyota team, our message board has been flooded with comments about the present and future of the team. Some have thanked him for turning the team around in 2005, whilst others have questioned his decisions and comments in the past.
Here are a selection of comments from the Totally Toyota F1 Message Board:

P1 - Mike has done a lot for Toyota

He came on at the end of 2003, but since the TF104 had already been mostly designed, he did not have much impact on that car. He had a huge impact on the team after the 2004 season, when he helped orchestrate a re-engineering of the entire aerodynamics department. He helped to recalibrate the windtunnel, and also improved the accuracy of the aerodynamic design and construction of parts. His work with the aerodynamics department was most likely the reason for the team's giant leap forward in 2005. It seems he also had a hand in some other good decisions, like in the recruitment of both Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, and the reorganization of design departments. But his biggest contribution seems to have been in the phenomenal improvement in the aerodynamics department, which had previously been a huge weakness with Toyota.


True racing machine – Organization

In order for a team to succeed you need stability, organization, experience along with quality members of staff.

I believe there are a number of others better at there job than Gascoyne however i don't believe that you can pin everything on his head. I honestly believe Toyota need a company like Prodrive to come in and completely reorganise everything within the team.

Although DR and Prodrive won't be going to Toyota as they have apparently put there name forwards for the 2008 world championships.

Prodrive did a fantastic job at BAR and completely turned the team around slashed down the spending of the team and were still able to produce a very competitive car in 2004.

But i do honestly believe Toyota are in massive need of some reorganisation.


Bozkurt – Ask yourself…

- Who said we don't want to be winter test champion. (I wonder ,What is wrong at to be winter test champion)

- Who showed us different painted old car as a new car. And three months tested old car.

- After seeing other car's aero's ,who said that is not so new car .We will bring new aero soon.

- Who bring new aero,a major improvement on the car, only two week before ,first race of the season.

- Who decided to test new aero at completely new track (vallelunga) so nobody can make comparions of new vs old.

- Who decided not to make test at Bahrain with Ferrari than share tire data &make car performance comparasion.


civic06R - Is Mike Gascoyne overrated?

"Overrated" is a relative word. He's very, VERY, good. But he's not worth that much cash. I think Toyota can make better investments using Mike's salary.

In addition, he does not seem to have "team spirit", insisting that everything be done his way. Like many people pointed out, one person can not be right about everything in an F1 car; it requires group effort.

I dare say that Toyota will be better off without him in the long term.

Likewise, MG will also be better off without Toyota. He should get a job at a UK-based team (since he does not want to live in Germany). No matter what, "commuting" almost half-way through Europe, will take away efficiency and create tension.


BigToyotaFan - Mike left... Drivers going?

My concern is that Mike is now departed, will the drivers going next year as well because of that? Trulli could the one affected.

My thinking is that Trulli worked with Mike long before Mike joined Toyota (Renault), Mike must has a good relationship with him. So now Trulli might lost a inspirational figure to work with since Mike left. (....of course that doesn't mean he can't work with anyone in Toyota). Don't forget Mike has change the management of the team since he joined Toyota. Trulli said he like the team so much perhaps because of Mike's contribution (not Toyota itself...?). Now Toyota reshuffles the team and management won't be too good for the drivers.

How does this affect the drivers? Will they loss support from the management as well?

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