Toyota chief not making predictions

"It is too early to have any clear indication of our relative competitiveness, but development of the TF106 will be relentless to extract all the benefits of our continuous improvement maxim, to always stay ahead of the game," he said.

Toyota unveiled their new car for the 2006 season on Monday, over three months ahead of the start of the season in Bahrain.

The Cologne-based team will already be testing their TF106 this week at Barcelona, where they will kick off a four-day test from Tuesday.

The test will be the first time Toyota will run with Bridgestone tyres, having switched from Michelin rubber.

Howett added: "The Bridgestone agreement was only concluded recently and it is important to get the partnership working as quickly as possible, to build up a strong technical relationship and to develop the chassis and the Potenza tyres together in preparation for 2006.

"The fact that we can test the new mechanical package and suspension together with V8 engine and Bridgestone rubber will surely give us a valuable head start."

Toyota Motorsport Chairman Tsutomu Tomita reiterated the team's intentions of fighting for the title and also hailed their early launch.

"Over the years Toyota has developed its own way of working," Tomita. "The so-called Toyota Way and the Toyota Production Systems (TPS) manufacturing methodology act as the double helix of Toyota's corporate DNA. It is this DNA that also runs through the veins of our Formula One team in Cologne.

"Only through our unique approach can we be optimistic of one day challenging for the World Championship. We are still at a very early stage of development with the TF106 but having our new car ready with three full months before the first race of the season in Bahrain, I hope we are demonstrating our will to succeed in F1."