Formula One news

Toyota says farewell to team manager Cregan

The Panasonic Toyota Racing on-track team paid tribute to Team Manager Richard Cregan at Interlagos today, on the occasion of his final Grand Prix wearing the Toyota uniform. The Irishman, 47, will leave Toyota at the end of this month to become Team Manager of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, spearheading preparations for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009.

All race team members joined together to pay tribute to Richard in the Interlagos pit lane as Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina presented him with a personalised Panasonic Toyota Racing race overall, produced by Alpinestars, before a group photo.

Cregan commented: "This has been a weekend of very mixed emotions because on the one hand I am excited by the future but on the other I am sad to be leaving my friends at Toyota. I have had a fantastic time with this team; we have had highs and lows but we have stuck together throughout and I am very proud of what has been achieved. Even though I will not be with Toyota after November, I will always be a team member in my heart.

"I was in Melbourne for Toyota's first Grand Prix, which was a very special event for us and to score a point, after so much hard work just to get there, was fantastic. The 2005 season was my most memorable because we were very successful but this year it was a good feeling to be back on the podium; that is where this team belongs.

"This is a great team of people and I believe there is no better in the pit lane. I know the results will come and I could wish for nothing better than a Toyota victory in the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That would be a dream come true."

Richard has played a pivotal role in Toyota's motorsport history, having joined the company in 1984 as a mechanic on the World Rally Championship team.

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