Toyota team members charged with theft !!!

[Matra et Alpine]

EX-TOYOTA OFFICIALS IN THE DOCK
Last Updated: Monday, 16, January, 2006, 16:09 Three former Toyota Motorsport officials have been charged with industrial espionage, the Reuters news agency is reporting.
German prosecutors have filed charges against the three unnamed individuals, accusing them of using technology – specifically a data analysis programme – purloined from Ferrari by a technician who switched to Toyota in early 2002.
The Toyota officials are alleged to have used the programme to develop their cars in 2002 and 2003 in the knowledge that they had obtained the software illegally.
A statement said: “Separate investigations into the former Ferrari staff member are being conducted in Italy and by Cologne prosecutors.”
Toyota Motorsport has not responded to the charges. A Cologne court specialising in economic malpractice will hear the case, although a date has yet to be set.

EMBATTLED EX-TOYOTA OFFICIALS NAMED
Last Updated: Monday, 16, January, 2006, 18:15 The three former Toyota employees charged with using stolen technology from Ferrari have been named.
All were high-level personnel from the Japanese outfit: team principal Ove Andersson, chief designer Gustav Brunner and Rene Hilhorst, head of aerodynamics.
The three men are accused of violating German competition law by using a data analysis programme brought over by a technician who moved from Ferrari to Toyota in early 2002, Cologne prosecutors revealed in a statement earlier today.
A Toyota spokeswoman confirmed the identity of the three individuals, but distanced the company from the specific charges being brought.
“Toyota Motorsport has not been formally notified of the above matter and does not have full knowledge of the specific issues,” she said.
“Toyota Motorsport would like to stress that the charges have not been brought against the company.
“For this reason, Toyota wishes to refrain from further comment, but remains confident that the situation will be resolved with a positive conclusion for those involved.”
Andersson was head of the Toyota F1 team in 2002-03, its first two years in the sport.

[NuclearCrap]

I knew Toyota's spoiled.

[nota]

Didn't the Toyota Europe rally team under Ove Andersson also run into legal problems a few years ago, which caused it to be removed from competition?

[johnnyperl]

the had a restrictor-bypass on their turboed celica(?) rallye cars.

[nota]

Originally Posted by johnnyperl

the had a restrictor-bypass on their turboed celica(?) rallye cars.

Here's the info, 2nd story

http://www.gt4wrc.co.uk/GT4WRC/RallyHistory.asp

[coolieman1220]

at least they're stealing from the best.....

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by coolieman1220

at least they're stealing from the best.....

They didn't steal from McLaren and/or Renault.

[johnnyperl]

Originally Posted by Rockefella

They didn't steal from McLaren and/or Renault.

check the years in question!

[s-d]

If you look at the front of the Ferrari F2002 and the Toyota TF103 they look pretty much similar to each other.. Nice try, but did it work? I can't remember Toyota winning anything in 2003

[PerfAdv]

Even the knock-off all red color scheme, a surface indicator of other intentions.

The only thing Toyota can do at this point is let the trio hang out to dry and claim it knew nothing about the piracy. In reality, I'm sure the three were paid handsomely to even be willing to take such a chance.

[MrKipling]

Yeah, they will have been paid by Toyota to take the wrap I should think.

There's a very similar story about a well-known rally car preparer, a car theft and some mechanics doing time from a reliable source, so I don't think it's unheard of for such a thing to happen in the otherwise squeaky-clean world of motor sport.

[Rockefella]

Originally Posted by johnnyperl

check the years in question!

Foiled!

[Vaigra]

Originally Posted by johnnyperl

the had a restrictor-bypass on their turboed celica(?) rallye cars.

I remember that, they rolled one of the cars and ended up- side down and somebody said "erm...what's that?" lol

[kingofthering]

this is sad that they stole from the best team (at the time) and yet they couldn't win.

[syko]

Now they have been charged and have been given Jail time of 9 and 16 months for passing on information from Ferrari to Toyota. I wander what implications this will have for the future of Toyota's F1 team.


JAIL TIME