Motor racing-FIA seeks urgent clarification from Toyota

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Formula One's governing body has sought urgent clarification from Toyota about its departure from the sport.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that Toyota's decision on Wednesday to quit caused concern, as did the announcement by tyre supplier Bridgestone that they would leave at the end of 2010.

"Bridgestone has given almost 18 months' notice of its intentions, thereby allowing the necessary arrangements to be made for the future supply of tyres to the championship," the FIA said.

"Toyota's decision, however, comes just weeks after its F1 team signed the new Concorde Agreement until 2012.

"Urgent clarification is now being sought from the Toyota F1 team as to its legal position in relation to the championship. This will have a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry."

Toyota did not say in a statement issued in Tokyo what they would do with their Cologne-based team, although a source there told Reuters that the plan was simply to close it down.

The former BMW-Sauber team have been named as reserves to take up any slot vacated by one of the 13 teams due to compete in 2010.

However their entry cannot be officially given the green light until Toyota confirm what is happening to their team.