Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Toyota boss sad about Marmorini's exit

Toyota boss sad about Marmorinis exit

Toyota team president John Howett admitted he was sad by Luca Marmorini's decision to leave the Japanese squad ahead of the upcoming season.

Marmorini had headed Toyota's engine department for years, having worked at the Japanese squad since 1999.

But the Italian decided to leave the company before the start of the season, as he was frustrated by the lack of engine development available in Formula One due to the freeze introduced.

Howett said Marmorini, who is replaced by Kazuo Takeuchi, also wasn't happy with Toyota's approach to KERS development.

"Personally, I am very sad that he left," Howett told the official Formula One website. "I think that he was frustrated on the one hand that there was really no opportunity for engine development, and also probably didn't agree with some of the strategic decisions - probably our more conservative approach to KERS.

"In the end, I think he didn't really want to leave and we didn't want to lose him, but there was still a gap that led to that.

"Mr Takeuchi is 100 percent a motorsport person, who has been involved in the original car programme, the IRL program and NASCAR, so he is an absolute racer."



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