Toyota quitting F1 racing, Wednesday November 04, 2009 Japan Options

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TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's Toyota Motor announced Wednesday it was quitting Formula One racing, joining an exodus of Japanese automakers from the sport due to the global economic crisis.

Toyota said its decision to withdraw after this year's season -- which ended Sunday in Abu Dhabi -- reflected "the current severe economic realities."

Honda and BMW have already exited F1 to cope with the credit crunch and Toyota's withdrawal leaves no Japanese automaker left in the high-octane motorsport, raising fresh fears for its future.


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