Wraps come off the TF107
Toyota launch 2007 challenger
Toyota today unveiled its new TF107 challenger at the Expo XXI conference centre in Cologne, Germany.
Toyota is the only one of the 11 F1 teams to go into the new season with the same engine, the same tyre partner, and the same two race drivers. That unique degree of continuity will enable the team to hit the ground running and build on the experience gained over recent seasons.
Toyota has ambitious goals in Formula 1 and is aiming for success in 2007. âOur fundamental challenge this year is to get the first victory,â says Chairman and Team Principal Tsutomu Tomita.
âWe announced that a year ago, but we failed to succeed in 2006. And therefore we want to repeat that challenge in 2007. I know all the other teams are working very hard, particularly the top three. We have five years experience in F1, but still we are young in comparison with the top teams, therefore we have to be modest about it. But we would like to challenge them.
âIâm very, very positive about this, and I personally think we should attack from round one. Therefore itâs very important to conduct some productive testing during the winter to fully understand the car and the tyres.â
The team has been strengthened in its quest for success by the arrival of George Tadashi Yamashina, who took over as Vice Chairman of Toyota Motorsport in December.
Yamashina will compliment the roles of Tomita and President John Howett, forming a management trio to lead Panasonic Toyota Racing to success.
âTomita-san, John and myself are like three arrows in the Japanese saying â one arrow breaks easily, two is harder to break and with three arrows you cannot break them,â he says. âOf course I am excited by the task. Whenever I get an assignment, no matter how hard the challenge is, I am happy. That is my attitude.
âThe most important target to aim for this season is the first victory for Toyota in Formula 1,â he said. âWe want to be on the top step of the podium. We have improved in all areas, aerodynamics, suspension and gear change.â
Last year the team did not meet its high expectations it had after success in 2005 but there is great confidence that the TF107 will see Toyota competing at the front again.
âOur ambition has always been to win â that to me is why we are here and why we are racing,â agrees Howett. âI think we built a fairly good platform in 2005, and last year we didnât move forward sufficiently from that platform. I think in terms of speed we had the third quickest package on the grid.
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