London: Toyota have restructured their Formula One team and axed the position of technical director after the departure of Mike Gascoyne last month.
The Cologne-based team said in a statement on Tuesday that Pascal Vasselon and Luca Marmorini would take on new positions as senior general managers for chassis and engine areas respectively.
Vasselon, who joined Toyota from tyre manufacturer Michelin, will however take on many of Gascoyne's responsibilities in chassis design, aerodynamics, race and test engineering and team management.
Toyota motorsport president John Howett said teamwork was the key to success and the ultimate aim of winning the championship.
"We feel this can only be accomplished by focusing less on the position of technical director, therefore we have decided to erase this position from our structure," he added.
"We are confident these changes will significantly help our long-term internal stability and ultimately our on-track performance."
Toyota have had a disappointing start to the 2006 championship after their best season in Formula One last year when they finished fourth overall and took their first pole position, podium finish and fastest lap.
Italian Jarno Trulli has so far failed to score a point in five races while Ralf Schumacher finished third in Australia and eighth in Malaysia.
Gascoyne, considered the highest-paid technical director in the sport until Red Bull signed Adrian Newey from McLaren, was suspended due to a "fundamental difference of opinion" after the third round of the season.
Both parties then agreed a mutual separation.
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