Toyota wants breakthrough win as it unveils new F1 car

Toyota unveiled its new Formula One car on Friday and hoped it would provide a breakthrough win for the team after six frustrating years on the circuit.

Photo: Toyota wants breakthrough win as it unveils new F1 car

The Japanese carmaker has sunk more than a billion dollars into its F1 effort and said the new TF 107 car would address reliability problems after a disappointing last season.

"Toyota is hungry for the first victory," Ralf Schumacher said. The German driver produced Toyota's only podium finish last year, taking third at the Australian Grand Prix.

Toyota had vowed that last season would bring the team its first win, after two second places by Jarno Trulli in 2005.

However, Toyota won no races and finished sixth in the team standings with 35 points a setback for one of F1's biggest spenders after coming fourth in 2005 with 88 points.

Tadashi Yamashina, Toyota's new vice chairman for motor sport, said the promise to win a race was a mistake.

The TF 107, which was presented to 500 people, will have the same engine as last year's model, Yamashina said, but has improved aerodynamics, suspension and gear change, reports AP.

Schumacher was impressed with the car during testing.

"It is only the third car in my career that I liked immediately," Schumacher said.

Toyota, the first to present its new car, is the only one of 11 teams to stick with both of last season's drivers Trulli and Schumacher.

The 2007 F1 season starts with the Australian GP on March 18.