Trulli: « Toyota will be in the fight with Renault and BMW »
Jarno Trulli, a driver at Toyota, hopes that his team will be able to secure its position behind Ferrari and McLaren after significantly improving in terms of performance with its new TF108. Although the Japanese team did not shine during winter testing, the introduction of new aerodynamic elements makes Trulli optimistic about his team’s chances […]
Jarno Trulli, a driver at Toyota, hopes that his team will be able to secure its position behind Ferrari and McLaren after significantly improving in terms of performance with its new TF108.
Although the Japanese team did not shine during winter testing, the introduction of new aerodynamic elements makes Trulli optimistic about his team’s chances for the 2008 season.
The Italian believes that Ferrari and McLaren have the upper hand, but he thinks more than anything that Toyota can beat BMW and Renault to comfortably settle into third position.
« I don’t know what others think, but it seems to me that Ferrari is very fast. Some have said that the championship is already over, » said Trulli from Barcelona, the location of this week’s tests.
The season is long, but if a team like Ferrari starts very strong, it won’t be easy to make up lost ground.
« So, we will see what the F2008 offers with its new aerodynamic configuration. In Melbourne, we will get a better idea of the Scuderia’s chances for the season. »
« But I expect Ferrari and McLaren to be in front, and behind these two teams, I hope, we might find Toyota, as well as Renault and BMW. I want to believe it! » He stated.
« I think the Ferrari can be half a second faster than the McLaren, with the other cars coming behind. It’s just my opinion, it’s not based on real data. »
« For our part, we can do better than last year. First of all, we will start from scratch to take a better direction. With a potential like Toyota’s, great things can be achieved. »
Toyota scored only 13 points last year and hopes to do much better with its TF108, which marks a break from previous cars.
Trulli admits he is much more optimistic in this year 2008, after having worked on the car for a good part of the winter.
« I am happy because the car is definitely better than last year’s, » added Jarno Trulli.
« I am much more confident: we went to Bahrain and it went pretty well because we were up against the Ferraris, and in my opinion, this encouraged us. »
« We can be in the top six or seven. Next week, during the final tests before the first round of the championship, we will really see where we stand and what we are capable of for the upcoming season. »
