The toyota unvield
pictures can be found atToyota will become the first team to run its 2006 car when it tests at Barcelona for four days this week. The Japanese manufacturer, which unveiled the car on Monday morning, claims that completing the V8-powered TF106 so early (it's still three months to Bahrain) could give it an advantage over its rivals. “We have been working on the TF106 since the end of 2004,” said technical director Mike Gascoyne. “The TF106 that will run in Barcelona marks the first stage of development for this car with continuous improvements planned in the run-up to the first race. "We are adopting a similar schedule to last season by testing the car early. This allows us to develop the mechanical side of car thoroughly before we introduce a new aero package in time for the first race. "This strategy helped us to be extremely competitive at the start 2005 and we are confident the same will happen in 2006.” Gascoyne says that the TF106 carries much of the thinking from the team's previous and most successful racer, the TF105B – which took a pole position in Japan and a podium in China in the hands of Ralf Schumacher. The car features a brand new rear-end thanks to the team's new V8 engine, but uses a development of the monocoque and front suspension from the TF105B. “The front end of the TF106 is an evolution of our TF105B that raced in Japan and China," said Gascoyne. "But the major design change for 2006 has been the implementation of the V8 engine in line with the new technical regulations, which has resulted in the redesign of the rear end." Much of the early development work on the car could be aimed at learning about its behaviour on Bridgestone tyres. With no previous experience of the Japanese rubber, and Toyota's deal only recently concluded, vast amounts of data needs to be acquired before the Christmas break. “The Bridgestone agreement was only concluded recently and it is important to get the partnership working as quickly as possible, to build up a strong technical relationship and to develop the chassis and the Potenza tyres together in preparation for 2006," said Toyota Motorsport President John Howett. "The fact that we can test the new mechanical package and suspension together with V8 engine and Bridgestone rubber will surely give us a valuable head start."
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