TOYOTA TEAM TOM'S

As with Nissan, Toyota is mounting a bigger effort for Le Mans than ever before, and the experience gained in the WS-PC this year will be of great use. The two principal entries are powerede by the new V8, which succesfully blasted Toyta onto the front row at Suzuka. The company will be making a concerted effort to go for pole (which Nissan probably won't), and Geoff Lees and Johnny Dumfries are both likely to get a chance to go for it. With well over 1000bhp on hand, the cars will be worth watching on the straight, preferably from a safe distance.... The third car is the older 4-cylinder model which took fourth at Dijon, and is run by the TOM's GB team. THis car already finished Le Mans, and should do so again. #36 - Minolta car not set up for hot laps, suffering brake problems in practice, contributing to debutant Cheever's shunt at Indianapolis on Thursday. Qualified 24th, ran near back of C1 field before engine failure struck Ogawa in third hour. #37 - The TOM's Toyota teamlost a frontrow grid position at Le Mans following a huge blunder by the team. Geoff Lees was not officially credited with the time - which held pole before being pipped by Schlesser's Mercedes - because it was set in the T-car. Toyota had intended to make an all-out effort for pole Wednesday, with its race car, chassis 08, set up in qualifying trim. However, when that session was ruined by rain, the team decided to have another crack on the second day. The T-car, chassis 06, was set-up with a qualifying engine. Despite problems with both car and traffic, Lees obliged by setting best time. However, the stewards then informed the team of the rule which states that cars running with a T number cannot set grid times, but can only be used to substitute for an identical car which has already qualified. This is exactly what Sauber did, Schlesser using a special qualifying car as '62', while racing the chassis which had practised as '62T'. Team boss Nobuhide Tachi had been confident before practice that the time would be allowed, having expressly asked the Clerk of the Course if the team could set a time with '37T'. He received a positive answer, which subsequently proved to be a mistake. The team had gone to the trouble of checking, because Satoru Nakajima's pole time for Toyta was disallowed at the 1986 Fuji 1000kms for exactly the same reason! Rain stymied big boost attempt on Wednesday, although Lees quickened in dark. Spare car used for 'pole attack' on Thursday. Despite traffic at Tertre Rouge Lees held pole until beaten by Schlesser, but time disallowed due to use of T-chassis. Had to start from first day's 17th place. Restricted to conservative run, 14th when Dumfries crashed at Porsche Curves at 19:30. Spent some two hours attempting to repair driveshaft, having crawled to Ford Chicane. #38 - Old style 4-cylinder car run by TOM's GB crew. Hit by problems with ventilated brakes on Thursday. Qualified 25th, not a contender in the race when Hoshino crashed at Porsche Curves in second hour. suspension pick-ups damaged, car retired when Artzet found handling odd.

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