Toyota promises ’very different’ ’08 car

Toyota has promised its 2008 car will be “very different" to this year’s model as it bids to finally make a breakthrough at the front of Formula 1.

The Japanese squad has struggled to break out of the sport’s midfield since its first race in 2002 and, despite a promising 2005 season, has finished sixth in the constructors’ championship in each of the past two campaigns.

When asked if the team is planning on introducing a revolutionary car like Williams for next season, Toyota’s general chassis manager Pascal Vasselon says its TF108 will be notably different – but stops short of calling it radically new.

“Our 2008 car will be very different," he told the latest issue of F1 Racing magazine. I wouldn’t say ‘revolutionary’ because nature is continuous. For instance, you don’t go from being stupid to intelligent, or back again, from one day to the next. So, although our car will be very different, it will be a normal evolution according to what we've learned through experience – and where we are in terms of understanding our performances."

“We’re working on a schedule that’s probably similar to the other teams," he said. “We started on the 2008 car very early – in January. Fuji was the last major upgrade for 2007."