Lexus in 2001

[John]

Can someone explain to me the Lexus team situation in 2001, all I know is that it was run by ABG to start with and by TMSR by the end.

When did this change occur? Why? and does anyone have any information about the teams because I couldnt find anything in my, albeit brief, search for official team websites etc.

Cheers

[thommo_fan]

i think ABG just changed their name to TMSR.
something to do with the total motorsport website buying into the team.

[Lexus Lad]

In 2001 there were some changes within the Lexus team and these brought about the change in name from ABG to TMSR.

[John]

So it was basically a name change? Were the same people involved in running it? Just seemed confusing thats all - especially as it meant they had to basically split their points in the teams championship between the two.

[Lexus Lad]

Some people left the team and some new people joined of which were part of the Janspeed team.

[John]

ok cheers for that then.

[Racefan_uk]

That's not actually right.
The team which began the season running the car was ABG, the car was liveried in Totalmotorsport.com colours from the beginning. The guy who ran Totalmotorsport.com, a guy called Tim Blake, started the project but the problems arose when subsequent funding did not arrive and ABG walked away from the project (if memory serves) then Janspeed were rumoured to be taking an interest and I think they ran the car for the last few rounds.

It was when ABG walked away that the team was changed to TMSR, it wasn't that TMS bought into the team or anything like that.

The second half of the season turned into a sorry mess for several people involved, all because certain people lied about things like money and backing etc...