Trulli still hungry for success

"I really hope to win the first race for Toyota," the 32-year-old told reporters after the contract extension was announced at the German Grand Prix.

"I won't say that I'll finish my career here, but I will be happy to stay here for even longer (than 2009) because they have got huge potential and are very committed."

Trulli joined Toyota from Renault in late 2004, after winning that year's Monaco Grand Prix, and helped the Germany-based team to fourth place in the constructors' championship last season.

The Italian also secured Toyota's first podium finish, with second place in Malaysia in 2005, and first pole at Indianapolis later that year.

However his future at the team had been called into question after a nightmare run of bad luck this season that saw him fail to score a point in the first eight races. Trulli said the new deal showed that Toyota had as much faith in him as he did in them.

"I think Toyota has got the potential and the resources to be strong and we are definitely on the up... now we are getting stronger and stronger," he said.

"I am really pleased with the contract because it means that also they trust me, they trust in the driver line-up and the work I have done up to now.

"We are going through a difficult stage of Formula One and a lot of things will change during next year and that's why we both agreed to stick to a long-term contract because continuity is the only way to build up something important," he added.

Toyota already have Germany's Ralf Schumacher under contract, leaving them with an unchanged line-up for 2007.

Trulli will be 35 when his deal comes to an end but he pointed to 37-year-old Michael Schumacher, Ferrari's seven times champion who has won four races this year, as proof that age was no barrier to success.

"We are fit, we do test a lot and it's different to the old days," he declared. "Schumacher I think is proving it."

"I feel I still have a lot to do in Formula One, I have only achieved the one victory but I think I have been robbed of too many podiums and victories as well, so I really want to push hard and build up the team around myself.

"I really think they can do it. I am still hungry for success."

Toyota are fifth in the championship, behind Honda, but Trulli felt sure the team could overtake their Japanese rivals in the remaining seven races.

"The team belongs to fourth place... and me and Ralf both think we can score enough points to bring the team back to where we finished last year," he said.