Toyota promises that the TF108 will be very different

Toyota has promised that its 2008 car will be very different from this year’s and hopes to make a breakthrough in the world of Formula 1 with the new one.

The Japanese team has struggled to get out of the midfield since its first race in 2002 despite a promising 2005 season where it finished sixth in the constructors’ championship. Just like in this year 2007, but thanks to the complete removal of McLaren Mercedes’ points.

When asked if the team was planning a revolutionary car like Williams for the next season, Toyota’s chassis general manager Pascal Vasselon stated that the TF108 will be notably different but refrained from saying it will be radically new.

« Our 2008 cars will be very different, » he said in the latest issue of F1 Racing.

« I wouldn’t say it’s revolutionary, because the nature of the car is continuous compared to past years.

« Thus, although our car is very different, it will be a normal evolution according to past experience. We are in the phase of understanding our representations, » he continued.

BMW and Renault are the two teams that focused on developing their cars for 2008 before the end of the 2007 season.

Vasselon stated that Toyota started its initial work on its next car quite early. It will be unveiled at the beginning of the year.

« We are working on a date that will probably be similar to that of the other teams, » he said.

« Fuji was the last upgrade of 2007, » concluded Vasselon.