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Interview: Glock sets rookie year goals

Lewis Hamilton's astonishing rookie success was more down to technology than his skill behind the wheel, believes Formula One newcomer Timo Glock

Hamilton lost out to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by a single point in the last race of 2007 and the Briton is expected to push for the title again in his second year with McLaren.

Glock will have more modest goals at the season-opening race in Melbourne on March 16 but the Toyota driver claimed Hamilton had been lucky to be with a championship contender.

"I can't do what Lewis Hamilton did last year," Glock told Reuters in an interview. "It's impossible. Lewis was just there in the right moment, in the right car.

"He did a good job but in the end it's not one hero doing everything. It's a team sport. You have to have the right package and the right timing. That's what Lewis had last year."

Glock won the GP2 support series last season after racing Hamilton in 2006 but insisted he had the skills to help improve Toyota's fortunes in Formula One.

"I think I am as aggressive as (Lewis) - I showed that in GP2 last year," said the German, who had four Formula One starts for now-defunct Jordan in 2004.

"I raced against Lewis in 2006. He beat me in a couple of races and I beat him in a couple of races. I know on the driving side I am on a good level.

"In Formula One it's difficult to overtake but if I get a chance I will go for it. You have to find the right mix between being aggressive and staying out of trouble."

Toyota Drought

Big-budget Toyota have yet to win an F1 race since their debut in 2002 and were last on the podium in 2006 but their new TF108 car should give Glock and Italian team mate Jarno Trulli more chances to push for top-three places.

"I think Toyota has made the biggest step forward of all teams," Glock agreed. "Ferrari and McLaren are still a step in front of everybody.

"But after them there are a lot of teams close together. I think we are quite strong compared to Williams, Red Bull, BMW and Renault. Jarno was quickest on the final day of testing in Barcelona."

Glock shrugged off the pressure on him and Trulli to turn things around at Toyota after two years of dismal results for the Japanese team.

"We have to be realistic," he said. "You can't suddenly make up two or three seconds in Formula One. Ferrari will not lose three seconds.

"When they take one step forward we have to take two steps just to keep up. But Renault won the championship two years ago and last year they were not competitive.

"They are still struggling. That shows how complex Formula One is. But Toyota definitely have the potential to be in the top three."

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