Formula One news

Gascoyne explains two-launch plan

TF106 rear suspension

Toyota's 2006 car - the TF106 broke cover well before Christmas, but the team has only officially launched the new car today in France. While the mechanical heart of the TF106 as tested in November is the same as the car that will first race in Bahrain on 2 March, aerodynamic and suspension updates - parts that in essence 'bolt on' - will be introduced as close to that first race as possible.

"The reason everyone pushes their car back as late as possible is to maximise time in the wind tunnel for aero development," said technical director Mike Gascoyne. "Our philosophy is to get the best of both worlds by releasing the Bahrain aero package as late as possible, to maximise the development time and reliability running of the mechanical package while ensuring that the aero development time is absolutely at its peak. If we'd rolled out a new car for January, we still couldn't have incorporated any of the things we'd learned from testing Bridgestones in November. We can now react and introduce the TF106B bearing in mind all that we've learned from testing."

The TF106B will be ready in time for the Monaco Grand Prix.

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