Trulli: Toyota to raise eyebrows in 2008

The Japanese squad, with one of the biggest budgets in Formula One, have underperformed in recent years and endured a dismal 2007 season, scoring just 13 points on their way to sixth place in the championship.

Their new car, however, has shown glimpses of speed during winter testing, leaving Trulli upbeat about their chances for the season.

The Italian reckons Toyota will not be able to match Ferrari or McLaren, but he believes the Cologne-based squad will be fighting in the group behind the top two.

"I am very happy with how the team has worked," Trulli told autosport.com. "It is good because we have finally found a new direction.

"The TF108 is a completely different car. I said at the first test that it was clearly a different animal [from last year's car]. Last year straightaway I knew we had a huge problem, but this year I am much more confident.

"I am still cautious, but I must say the team understands this car more and we have gone in a direction that we understand much better.

"It's a shame that there are some things that showed good performance internally but then didn't translate well to the track but still it has been a good step forward. The aero package is working well but we expected it to be slightly better.

"So I think we are very close to being at the top if you forget about Ferrari and McLaren, because they are really very strong. But we are very close to the rest.

"I am moderately optimistic. I am sure we can raise some eyebrows this year and cause problems for some teams. We can be competitive. Forget Ferrari and McLaren for the moment, they are a couple of steps ahead, but the rest are within reach."

He added: "It's like a real racing car. You change things and you can feel the difference. If we make very, very tiny changes, even by mistake, I can feel it straightaway. This is a very good feeling for me and the team."

Trulli also praised the input of veteran Formula One engineer Frank Dernie, who has joined the team as a consultant.

"Frank Dernie has given the team good input, especially with his experience," Trulli added. "This guy has huge experience. He is someone who has the racing spirit and can give the team and its people a lot of good direction.

"He is a consultant on several things. From my point of view he is helping us quite a lot. It is very good to talk with him.

"I spend a lot of time talking with him because while he is very talkative, it is good to listen to him because of his experience. He does say very interesting things and that is important for a driver.

"When you have an experienced person like him there are always plusses and there are never minuses."