Wednesday June 28th, 2000

Toyota has blamed the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for its delayed entry into Formula One after a rule change banning 12-cylinder engines.

Japan's biggest car manufacturer had planned to enter the world championship next year and was developing a 12-cylinder power unit. But the FIA ruled in January that only 10-cylinder engines could be used until 2008.

Toyota announced earlier this month that it would postpone entry for a year, but must now pay a $12.29 million penalty to the FIA to keep its place on the grid.

"We find it hard not to blame the FIA," said Toyota Europe spokesman Kevin Perlmutter. "I would be very surprised if the team knew about the rule change, and certainly would not have started working on a 12-cylinder engine if they did.

"The application of the ruling has changed the team's plans and our focus has had to turn to working on a 10-cylinder engine."

Toyota would not confirm work had started on a 10-cyinder engine, but team chief Ove Andersson was confident they would be ready for the first race in March 2002.

Andersson said: "We will be ready to take part in races in 2002. We will spend 2001 on a test and development programme."