Japanese GP: Toyota Wants to Shine at Home

Toyota and its drivers arrive confident at the Suzuka Grand Prix, after a strong 2nd place finish by Timo Glock at the Singapore Grand Prix. The team arrives in Japan looking to shine in front of its fans and secure a second consecutive podium finish, which would be welcome and especially well-regarded at home.

The German driver achieved an unexpected podium in Singapore; he was only sixth after the first corner but gained a position when Fernando Alonso was hindered by Mark Webber. The Toyota driver gained another spot when Webber had to let Alonso, and thus Timo Glock, pass to avoid a penalty. He then benefited from the penalties of Nico Rosberg, who crossed the white line exiting the pits, and Sebastian Vettel, guilty of speeding during a pit stop. Even if luck was on Glock’s side in this race, he was flawless in difficult conditions. He is determined to repeat this weekend by getting on the podium, preferably on the top step. Jarno Trulli did not have a good weekend in Singapore, as the safety car came out during his first pit stop, marking the end of his race. He finished 12th with traction problems. But Jarno Trulli hopes to make up for it this weekend; he loves this circuit and the atmosphere at Suzuka. There will be a lot of pressure on Toyota this weekend, but the team has confidence in its new package and is determined to fight until the end.

Timo Glock – Racing Driver

Suzuka is a really special circuit. It is very fast and the first sector is just incredible in a Formula 1 car, a truly enjoyable experience. Five years ago, I drove a Formula 1 car at Suzuka but the layout has changed and I’m sure many fans will still come to see us race there. It’s a circuit where it’s a pleasure to drive not just because of the fantastic layout, but also because of the fans who make you feel special, especially when you have a Toyota engine. It’s not an easy track and you really need to be fully focused to get the best lap time, but that also makes it fun. It was fantastic to finish on the podium in Singapore, I would really like to fight for the podium again especially since it’s Toyota’s home race, it would be an excellent result. Standing on the podium for Toyota in Japan, it would be perfect.

Jarno Trulli – Racing driver

I am very happy to return to Suzuka, it is one of my favorite circuits and a very technical and challenging track that I enjoy a lot. There are many high-speed corners and the quick direction changes make it a bit like Spa. I am particularly looking forward to seeing what modifications have been made to the facilities, although I am happy that the layout and surface have been redone. Japan is the home Grand Prix for the team, so I will give my utmost to achieve the best result for Toyota and our supporters. I have a special relationship with the Japanese fans, so I really enjoy visiting the country; they are always supportive and enthusiastic. It’s a special atmosphere. I had a disappointing weekend in Singapore, but Suzuka is a completely different track and we should be competitive, we hope to be very strong, and I therefore hope to have a good race and score some points.

Tadashi Yamashina – Director of the Toyota Team:

We are very excited about our Grand Prix. After two great years at the Fuji Speedway, we are returning to Suzuka this season, but despite the change in location, we are just as determined to achieve a positive result. We have a lot of support from our fans, partners, and Toyota employees for this race, which is very motivating for the whole team. This creates a certain positive pressure, as we know our supporters will be there hoping for a good result, and we are determined to meet their expectations. Everyone in Cologne has worked very hard to develop the new package, we saw it in Singapore and it will be used again in Japan. This shows that we are fighting for every tenth of a second until the end of the season.