Formula One news
Toyota targets first win in 2009
15 January 2009 / PhotosThe Toyota Formula One team has set themselves clear targets for the upcoming season. The only Japanese team left in the sport targets its first win in Formula 1 this season. Toyota chairman Tadashi Yamashina was clear: "we want to win".
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Speaking about the team's targets for the upcoming season Toyota's chairman and team principal, Tadashi Yamashina, said: "Our target this year is to try to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1. When I took over as Chairman and Team Principal in 2007 I stated my task for the first year would be to observe, for the second year it would be to improve and for the third year and beyond it would be to succeed. This is my third season so it is very clear for me - I want to see us win a race.
"Of course at every Grand Prix weekend we try to win but unfortunately we have not been able to do so until now. For Toyota our objectives are clear at each race; we want to win and if that is not possible we want to finish on the podium. Toyota has a challenging spirit with very high ambitions so we must always aim high."
Yamashina was happy with the team's performance in 2008. Looking back at last season's results he said: "Of course I was happy to see such a big improvement on the previous seasons, and it was very satisfying to be back on the podium and the front row of the grid. However, we want more than this - we want to be fighting for wins and the world championship. We had some great weekends but we must also remember the weekends where things did not go as well for us. The TF108 was generally a reliable car but still we lost quite a few points due to retirements and we cannot be happy about that. Our target is 100% reliability and we worked to develop counter-measures to move us closer to this target.
In 2009 though the team targets its first win, but is it a realistic target? "I firmly believe we have a big opportunity this year. I have been impressed by the team's work on the TF109 and we already made great progress last year due to strong team work and good communication. Formula 1 is a very difficult challenge and, unlike when you develop a road car, every two weeks you are judged in front of the whole world. But this has made the team strong and I believe we are in a good position for this season," Yamashina said.
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