The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that a succession plan was already in place for the 60-year-old to be succeeded by David Floury as technical director of the organisation that masterminds its World Endurance Championship programme and develops the engines for the World Rally Championship GR Yaris Rally 1.
The confirmation was made by long-time chief engineer on the WEC team Floury, who has been given the technical directorship on an acting basis.
“The transition was expected anyway, but the timing may have been a bit different,” said Floury.
“With regard to Pascal, he is expected to stay within the Toyota organisation with a new mission.”
That adds weight to the theory that Vasselon was going to step down at the end of this year from a job he had held since 2006 when Toyota was still involved in Formula 1.
He appeared set for a key role in Toyota’s programme to put a prototype powered by a hydrogen combustion engine on the grid at the 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The statement from Toyota announcing the change said that it “expects him to resume an active role soon”, which suggests that the plan remains in place.
Source: Autosport