Toyota to use revised TF106 in Bahrain

The Cologne-based squad were the first team to start testing with their 2006 car, which hit the track for the first time in December.

Gascoyne said, however, that the TF106 will be completely revamped before the season starts in Bahrain in March.

"You always want to bring the new car out as early as possible to get reliability, get as much mileage as possible before the season starts," Gascoyne told autosport.com during testing at Jerez.

"Conversely you want to bring the car out as late as possible because you want to give yourself as much time as possible on the aero package.

"What we have chosen to do is to bring the car very early, then totally re-do the bodywork before Bahrain, which gives the best of both worlds. The down side of doing it is most of the bodywork you see on the car you will never see it race, we just throw it away.

"But we are organised about that, so as long as you do it in an organised manner you can overcome that.

"So for us it means we can get the mechanical reliability but get the best possible package on the car for the first race. You just have to be able to afford it."

When asked what changes the updated car will include, Gascoyne said: "New front wing, new front wing end plate, front brake ducts, front turning vanes, new sidepods, new diffuser, new rear tray, new bodywork on the sides, new rear wing, new rear brake ducts, rear brake drum, and new rear crash structure, and new front and rear suspensions.

"It is a fairly substantial update."

The revised car will take to the track at Vallelunga during the second week of February, before two more chassis are tested in Barcelona and then flown to Bahrain for the season opener.