By Andrew Benson
Motorsport editor |
 | Renault designer Gascoyne is a man in demand |
The Renault Formula One team look set to lose their star designer to rivals Toyota.
Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne, who has masterminded the team's revival in the last two seasons, is understood to have received a multi-million-pound offer to move to the Japanese team.
Gascoyne refused to comment on the possibility of a move, although it is considered to be only matter of time before he switches camps.
"I've got absolutely no comment to make - I'm just concentrating on making Renault as competitive as possible," he told the BBC Sport website.
Toyota are said to be offering Gascoyne a salary of US$6.5m (�4m) to head up their technical team.
The ambitious outfit want the Englishman to turn them into a team capable of challenging for victories - something he has already done at Renault.
|  This has been a continuing rumour, but there is nothing new from Renault |
F1 rumours say Renault boss Flavio Briatore is negotiating a trade with Toyota.
Briatore is said to be prepared to release Gascoyne from his contract - which ends in 2005 - if Toyota would give their engine designer Luca Marmorini in return.
A Renault spokeswoman said: "This has been a continuing rumour, but I don't know anything about it and there is nothing new from Renault."
Gascoyne's departure would be a major blow to Renault, even if they could secure an engineer to help them improve their down-on-power engine.
They had been struggling in their previous guise as Benetton and Briatore poached Gascoyne from Jordan after Renault bought the team in early 2000.
 The Renault is regarded as one of the best chassis in F1 |
Gascoyne joined Jordan in 1998 and quickly helped turn Jordan from a mid-grid outfit to one that was capable of racing with the top teams and occasionally winning races.
He has performed a similar role at Renault, where a restructured technical department has this year designed what is considered to be possibly the best chassis in F1.
Gascoyne is a specialist in aerodynamics, a part of F1 car design in which Toyota have been struggling since their debut in 2002.
MMIX
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