Trulli: « Toyota may be the 3rd force in 2008 »

Jarno Trulli is convinced that his team, Toyota, will surprise its competitors with its speed this year, following a breakthrough in terms of performance.

The Japanese team, with one of the biggest budgets in Formula 1, has not lived up to this budget in recent years and even endured a rather sad 2007 season, scoring only 13 points to finish in sixth place in the championship.

However, the new car showed a glimpse of the speed gain achieved during winter testing, leaving Trulli optimistic about his chances in this new season.

The Italian believes that Toyota will not be able to compete alongside Ferrari or McLaren, but he thinks that the team based in Cologne will be right behind in that renowned group contending for the title of 3rd force.

« I am very satisfied with the way the team has worked. We have finally found a new direction, » said Trulli.

« The TF108 is a completely different car. I said it from the very first test event where it was used. Last year, I immediately knew we had a huge problem, but this year, I am much more confident. »

« I always remain cautious, but I must say that the team understands this car better and we have gone in a direction that we understand much better.

« It’s very frustrating to see that internally, there are good performances, but then on the track, there’s nothing. The new aerodynamic package works well, but we still expect a bit more, » he admitted.

« I think we are in a very good position if you forget Ferrari and McLaren, because they are really too strong. But we are very close to all the other teams that follow. »

« I am sure that this year we can recover and cause problems for a number of teams. We can be competitive. »

Trulli also praised the contribution of engineer Frank Dernie, who joined the team as a consultant.

« Frank Dernie, with his experience, reassured the team. This guy has enormous experience. He has a racing spirit and can give a team and its entourage a lot of common sense, » added Trulli.

« He is a consultant for different points of view. For me, he helps us a lot. It is a very good thing to be able to talk with him. »

« I actually spend quite a bit of time there because he is very talkative. It’s a pleasure to listen to him because of his experience. He knows how to say very interesting things that are of great importance to a pilot. »