14/1/2008
Panasonic Toyota Racing has unveiled its 2008 Formula One car and introduced a new driver line-up that it believes will bring a significant upturn in performance for the season ahead.

Launched at the team's headquarters in Cologne, Germany, the TF108 is an entirely new concept from last season's car and features a longer wheelbase, heavily revised aerodynamic package and new gearbox.

Reigning GP2 champion Timo Glock joins veteran Jarno Trulli and new third driver Kamui Kobayashi in a fresh driver line-up for Toyota - one that mixes youth and experience.

Chairman and team principal Tadashi Yamashina stated at the launch that everything was in place for the team to perform strongly during the 2008 season.

"Of course, our ultimate target is the middle step of the podium - we are in Formula One to win and we want to do that soon," he said.

"Our clear target in 2008 is to make a big improvement in our results because we were not satisfied with our performance last year. We expect to have a truly competitive car so our drivers should be aiming to finish in the points regularly and challenging for the podium."

"We have great potential in this team - we have the right people in place and the right resources so we have every reason to be optimistic."

Senior general manager - chassis Pascal Vasselon explained there were multiple reasons for constructing the TF108 with a longer wheelbase than that of its predecessors.

"The main reason for making the wheelbase longer is to achieve more stability, but secondly we also expect greater aerodynamic development potential, giving our aerodynamicists wider surfaces and more space to play with," he said.

"The primary aerodynamic design philosophy for the TF108 is geared towards optimising the entire package. In mechanical terms we felt we had a strong basis so we have focused on making a few refinements."

In conjunction with new 2008 rules that ban driver aids, the TF108 does not have traction control and uses a standard Engine Control Unit (ECU) - something that will be used by every car in the field.

New race driver Glock is both proud and excited ahead of his Toyota debut at Albert Park in March and wants to help Toyota achieve a significant jump in performance.

"Formula One will be a little different compared with the other series I have raced in because I am racing against 21 of the best drivers in the world," he said. "But my job is still the same - to get the best possible result from my car.

"I want to have the most successful season possible. I aim to be consistent and to help the team move upwards. My first goal will be to regularly challenge for points and I believe we will be able to do that.

"Even though I have not raced in Formula One since 2004, I have tested quite regularly so I expect it will take very little time for me to get back in the groove."

Starting his fourth full season with the team, Trulli is looking forward to developing the TF108 and also to racing without traction control.

"My hopes are always high because normally I am very positive," the Italian said.

"I have been giving input into this car since the middle of the 2007 season, helping to develop the car to adapt to the new rules which ban traction control and engine braking.

"There is quite a big change in terms of electronics this year and I have spent time working with the team on this. I am doing all I can in order to help the team to step up."

The TF108 will make its track debut at Jerez in Spain on Sunday 13 January in what will be the first of five tests before the team heads to Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.