Formula 1
Toyota aiming for podium
Now entering its third year in Formula One, Toyota's goal for 2004 is podium positions. The best finish for the team so far was Olivier Panis' fifth in Germany last season and Toyota finished sixth in the constructors' standings. Vice president ...
Published: Feb 21, 2004, 9:00 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Now entering its third year in Formula One, Toyota's goal for 2004 is podium positions. The best finish for the team so far was Olivier Panis' fifth in Germany last season and Toyota finished sixth in the constructors' standings. Vice president Akihiko Saito believes this season will see Toyota move into the ranks of serious challengers.
Olivier Panis.
Photo by Toyota Racing.
"It will be our third F1 season and we are starting to feel that we are gradually recognised as an F1 player. This year, we will aim at a podium position," Saito said at a press conference.
"We have faced many challenges during the previous seasons and stayed in large part just another challenger. We are still a challenger but this year we hope to take a big step forward and really be part of the F1 community."
Toyota continues with drivers Panis and Cristiano da Matta in 2004 but there have been changes within the team. Principal Ove Andersson retired at the end of last season and Tsutomu Tomita took over the position. Former Renault man Mike Gascoyne is now Toyota's technical director and Tomita believes that Gascoyne's input will make a difference.
"What's going for us this year is the experience of Mike Gascoyne," said Tomita. "He has already given us many suggestions about mechanical design, race strategies and race techniques. I believe our machines for the next season (2005) should reflect input from Mike Gascoyne."
"I have to admit our new cars are not necessarily the fastest. But they are achieving our goals and are running faster than our previous models. We are looking forward to the opening of the new season."
Toyota is currently testing at Valencia in Spain with da Matta and test driver Ricardo Zonta behind the wheel.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Button defends BAR performance
Next article Ralf fastest at wet Valencia
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Olivier Panis
On this day: Olivier Panis takes only F1 win in chaotic Monaco GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
On this day: Olivier Panis takes only F1 win in chaotic Monaco GP
Exclusive: Panis says ART’s Vasseur would “do the job” for Renault F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Exclusive: Panis says ART’s Vasseur would “do the job” for Renault F1
Formula Renault 3.5 kicks off 2015 season at Motorland Aragón
Formula V8 3.5
Formula V8 3.5
Formula Renault 3.5 kicks off 2015 season at Motorland Aragón
More from
Toyota Racing
Toyota fears “big gap” to rivals in Monza WEC after worst qualifying of 2026
WEC
WEC
Monza
Toyota fears “big gap” to rivals in Monza WEC after worst qualifying of 2026
Sebastien Ogier tipped for partial WRC 2027 programme
WRC
WRC
Sebastien Ogier tipped for partial WRC 2027 programme
Latest news
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe