Ralf Expects to Fight for Podiums by End of Season

High-spending Toyota hope they are finally on track for Formula One success after launching their 2005 car, but German driver Ralf Schumacher is not expecting podium finishes until the end of the season.

"Our ultimate goal is to win in F1, but we know it takes time," said team boss Tsutomu Tomita before the car was unveiled on a platform at the Spanish city's little-used Estacion de Franca. "Our target with the TF105 is to make an important step on our way to victory."

Toyota have spent a fortune - possibly as much as $1 billion - on Formula One since their debut in 2002 and have seen little return on their money in terms of success. The world's second largest carmaker, whose team is based in Germany, finished eighth out of 10 last year and have yet to score a podium in 51 starts.

Tomita said he had been "very disappointed and frustrated" by 2004 but technical director Mike Gascoyne, who joined from Renault in 2003, was confident a corner had been turned with the first car designed by the team under his supervision.

"We're not supposed to make predictions but since I went to Tyrrell this is the first team I've been at that within 12 months we haven't scored a podium," he said. "So personally, I think I need to put that right as soon as possible.

"We are confident with the work that we've done. I think everyone in Toyota knows that we've made a much better car than we've done in the past. How good it is, you'll have to wait and see."

Ralf Optimistic

The team have a new line-up from the start of 2004, with Germany's Schumacher joining from Williams and Italian Jarno Trulli already moving from Renault for the last two races of last year. Both are race winners and Ralf said the podium, being demanded by senior management in Tokyo, could be within their grasp this year.

"It's unrealistic to say we're going to win or go for a win in the first few races," said the German, World Champion Michael Schumacher's younger brother. "But I think there's a very good starting point which we see here... it is safe to say that if everything goes to plan we could go for a podium towards the end of the year."

Trulli, winner of last year's Monaco Grand Prix for Renault, added: "I think it is realistic to expect us to move closer to the front, but let's take things step by step. Toyota has the mentality to make it to the top but it will take time."

The TF105 is the first of the new-look Formula One cars to be revealed after rule changes this season to reduce speeds on safety grounds. However the look is likely to be considerably different by the time the season starts in Melbourne on March 6.

"We will totally re-bodywork the car for Melbourne so we can have the latest aero package," said Gascoyne. "The downside is that you have to produce more bits but that's what you have to do to be competitive."