Formula One news
Zonta: "V8 might be quicker than V10"
02 December 2005Ricardo Zonta was the first Toyota driver to test the 2006 car, along with Jarno Trulli this week. There was quite a lot to get used to - the new car was fitted with a V8 engine and Bridgestone tyres. The team launched its new car and engine very early, which it hopes will be a huge advantage for next year. The V8 is far slower than the V10, but Zonta thinks that it might not be for long.
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Everything is new on the Toyota, making comparisons hard. "Barcelona has medium fast corners, you don't feel the difference of the new engine that much," he told F1Racing.net in Barcelona. "It's a nice track to drive it, it feels very close to the V10. In Jerez we will feel it though. Missing that power changes your driving style. You have to use the speed in the middle of the corner. Also with the set up you have to change. We are learning about the Bridgestone tyres too. This is the first time and we need to do more work before we can say anything about it."
Toyota has always been good at getting its new car out early, but this year they managed it in record time. Before the first winter tests the TF106 was ready. A good thing, according to Zonta. "For developing and setting it up, it's the best to have the car this early. The project of the V8 also started early. We are working to be a championship contender. The people in de factory didn't have a break. Everybody kept on working. We hope to be the fastest team in Bahrain of course."
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Zonta doesn't think the new regulations will affect F1 too much. He even thinks the V8 might be faster at the end of the year than the V10. "I believe it is possible to make to V8 as quick or quicker than the V10. I don't know how long it will take, but we hope to achieve that this year. "
Still the limited V10 is faster. The new Minardi, Scuderia Toro Rosso will be using it. Zonta doesn't agree with the regulations, allowing team to use a limited V10. "I think they have an advantage over the V8 teams," he explained. "It seems to be quicker, I don't know yet what the difference is, but I feel that it should be equal for everybody. I think Scuderia Toro Rosso should not be allowed to run a limited V10."
After a few years of racing Grands Prix, the Brazilian is now settling in at Toyota. He will be the team's official test driver again in 2006. He is happy to stay. "The teams trusts me, I trust them. It is very important to know each other in the team. When I was starting in F1, I was not prepared to set up a car. Since 2000 I know how to do that and nowadays I have a lot of confidence."
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