F1 Feature - Toyota: 'We're Moving In The Right Direction'
26/10/2006
The Brazilian Grand Prix promised much for Toyota. Its TF106 featured various aerodynamic and mechanical updates for the race which, when combined with Bridgestone's latest-spec tyres, proved to be a very potent package.
Jarno Trulli (above) qualified in third place, his best position of the year, and Ralf Schumacher lined up seventh. But both drivers suffered exactly the same problem in the race, leading to the team's second double retirement of the year.
"It was like a bad dream," said Tsutomu Tomita, Toyota's team principal. "Both cars experienced a rear suspension failure of the central element, which was not a new part. Ralf reported the problem first, immediately after the Safety Car period at the beginning of the race, and then Jarno suffered the same two laps later. We are very disappointed, but this is racing and sometimes it is good, and sometimes it is bad."
Trulli suffered a similar rear suspension problem during qualifying at Indianapolis earlier in the year. "It seems that every time I have been doing a good race this year I have had a problem and have had to retire," said the Italian. "I lost one podium in Monaco, one probably in Magny Cours and another in Brazil."
The team finished sixth in the 2006 Constructors Championship, one point behind BMW Sauber. Looking ahead to next year, Toyota is one of the few to have continuity over the winter: they are retaining both drivers and can build on the relationship they established with Bridgestone in 2006.
"We believe that we are moving in the right direction and now we will have to work hard for next year," said Tomita-san.