Revamped Toyota is ready

Toyota was the first outfit to unveil its 2005 challenger, with the car hitting the track in early January, as the outfit made sure to get on top of the mechanical aspects of the new machine. It talked about introducing its definitive aero package nearer the start of the season, although the extent of the overhaul is something of a surprise.

Speaking to autosport.com about what would be new on the car, Gascoyne said: "Everything is different - even the panels bonded on the sidepods have had to be taken off.

"There is a new undertray, new rear bodywork, new brake ducts, new drums, a new nosebox, a new front-wing, new plates and new turning vanes - so apart from the monocoque everything else is new.

"We have made full use of the resources we have. For sure people are going to update their car, but no-one is going to be able to do it to the extent we have."

The decision to overhaul the TF105 to such an extent has meant extra work and extra cost for the Toyota team, but Gascoyne believes it is the best course of action for the outfit - and is fully justified considering the team has one of the biggest budgets on the grid.

"Yes it is a lot of work, but if you want to have the best performance possible with a car that has run as early as possible then that is what you have to do," he said.

"Getting a complete car package too early means freezing the design at that point, but having the latest possible deadline as we do allows us to develop further. It definitely means we are busier and it is more costly - but I think that is where Toyota needs to use its resources and to start behaving like a big team.

"I think it was the right thing to do. It probably was a different philosophy from what Toyota had operated in the past but it is far more flexible - although in other respects it is also far more risky."