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  Toyota TF106      

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Country of origin:Japan
Produced in:2006
Predecessor:Toyota TF105
Successor:Toyota TF107
Source:Company press release
Last updated:November 30, 2005
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Click here to download printer friendly versionRenowned for its early car launches, Toyota has raised the standards yet again by unleashing its 2006 race car over three months before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled for 12 March. Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne believes such a head start could offer the Cologne-based team a significant time advantage over its rivals ahead of the winter holiday period. The TF106 marries a brand new rear end, designed to accommodate Toyota's latest specification V8 engine, with a development of the monocoque and front suspension of its pole-setting, podium-scoring TF105B interim car that was brought in for the final two races of the 2005 season.

Panasonic Toyota Racing experienced just one engine retirement over 19 race weekends in 2005, an impressive statistic given the increase to two-race reliability demands for last season. Such an enviable record, coupled with the strong performance of Toyota's V10 in its comparatively short F1 history, have provided invaluable foundations for development of the V8 power unit according to Technical Director Engine Luca Marmorini. The new Toyota RVX-06 V8 engine was testbenched for the first time on 21 March 2005, one day after the team scored its debut podium finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Since its first track run at the end of July, the V8 has completed 291 laps over eight separate days, a distance of 2,143km.

In the driving seat for this week's TF106 debut will be 2006 race drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, who finished 6th and 7th respectively in the drivers' championship in 2005 and helped Panasonic Toyota Racing secure fourth in the constructors' championship. Joining them will be Brazilian driver Ricardo Zonta, who has recently signed a one-year contract extension to be the team's third and reserve driver for 2006. Frenchman Olivier Panis will also continue in an important test drive role in 2006, his fourth consecutive season as a Panasonic Toyota Racing driver.

Panasonic Toyota Racing has three scheduled test sessions prior to the traditional winter break. Following this week's four-day pounding of the Barcelona circuit, the team moves further south to the Circuito de Jerez from 7 December, where it will test for a total of eight days and use its full complement of drivers.

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  Article Image gallery (15) Specifications