GASCOYNE AIMS FOR WORLD TITLE
Last Updated: Monday, 01 December , 2003, 11:00
Mike Gascoyne believes he can transform Toyota into title contenders by 2006.
The Englishman starts work as Toyota technical director today and reckons he can have the same effect on the Cologne-based team that he had on Jordan and Renault.
He told the BBC: “Having changed teams twice and made them into winners, I'm very confident in my ability to do that - especially with the resources that Toyota have.
"I've been criticised for not going on to win the world championship. Well, I've never failed to do that, I've just moved on because another team wanted me.
"With Jordan, there wasn't the possibility [to win the championship]. I made the decision between Renault and Toyota and for me the thing is to be world champions.
"To turn the team around, that is not a challenge, I can do that. The challenge is to make them world champions.
"I think it should be possible to become winners relatively quickly because Toyota do have elements in place that the other teams didn't have. I want to do that very quickly so we can go on and challenge for the championship.
"We have to be winning races in two years' time - by 2005 - and challenge for the championship the year after."
However, Gascoyne admitted that results were unlikely to flow straight away.
He said: "Toyota are very committed to winning the world title and have taken a very measured approach. We would have to aim at being fifth [in the constructors’ championship]."
"It's not about results in the first year, it's about the set-up of the team and then the results come afterwards.
"I do think it is realistic to aim to be fifth. Whether it's achievable, I'm not in a position to judge.
"The drivers are good enough - Olivier Panis is quick and very experienced and Cristiano da Matta showed some fantastic flashes last season.
"The engine looks to be very good. Chassis-wise, it can be much better aerodynamically, and the car suffered during braking and on corner entry.
"And in terms of the team's general set-up, they were weak. When they were racing for fifth place at Indy, for example, they threw it away.
"I feel it's a fairly similar situation to Renault [when he went there in 2000]. There are good people and a lot of resources.
"Toyota undoubtedly have less experience but they have greater resources and greater commitment. They are behind in some areas and ahead in others.
"Certainly they are incredibly determined to do it. The line I received is whatever they go into in motorsport
ITV-F1
