Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) announced today that Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Managing Officer Tadashi Yamashina (right), who oversees motorsport-related activities, has been appointed the Vice Chairman of Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), based in Cologne, Germany, effective from 1 December. The aim is to strengthen Toyota's Formula 1 technical development and race strategy structures in advance of the 2007 F1 season.

As a TMC managing officer as well, Yamashina will remain in charge of both TMC's Motor Sports Division and Motorsport Business Management Department.

TMC Executive Vice President Kazuo Okamoto said: "As we head into the 2007 season, TMG needs to strengthen its organization, so we have decided to send Yamashina to head up the technical development. He not only has technological knowledge but also a wealth of overseas experience, thus we're looking forward to the leadership he will bring to TMG."

TMG Chairman Tsutomu Tomita said: "With the addition of Yamashina as vice chairman, the three of us, including (TMG President) John Howett, will challenge to lead our team to its first victory."

Yamashina joined Toyota in 1977. He was made project general manager of the Component & System Development Center's Vehicle Engineering Division in 1998, before being appointed general manager of the Vehicle Evaluation & Engineering Division 2, Vehicle Development Center 2, in the same year. In 2001, he was seconded to Toyota Technical Center, U.S.A., Inc. as president. He was made a managing officer in 2003. After being responsible for technical administration and development of fuel cell technologies, he was assigned in 2006 to handle technology R&D and business activities related to motorsport.