Panasonic Toyota Racing gave its new TF108 car an official testing debut at Jerez in Spain today following a successful roll-out at the same track yesterday. Jarno Trulli completed 67 laps at the wheel of the TF108 during yesterday’s trouble-free roll-out in ideal conditions but the new car’s first full day of testing started with rain pouring on to a wet track. Jarno’s task was to put as many laps as possible on the new car to test systems and begin to understand set-up changes while his new team-mate Timo Glock drove a modified version of the TF107, working on the new gearbox and standard ECU, as well as making some set-up comparisons. Soon after lunch Timo spun into the gravel at turn 8, damaging his front wing against the tyre barriers. But quick work by his crew saw him back in action after a short delay and he completed his programme with no further trouble. Jarno made good progress understanding the TF108 and, thanks to impressive reliability from the new car, he completed 87laps. Timo takes over at the wheel of the new car tomorrow, with Kamui Kobayashi alongside.

Panasonic Toyota Racing continued to put the TF108 through its paces on day two of testing at Jerez, with Timo Glock getting his first opportunity to drive the new car today. After a roll-out and one day of testing in the experienced hands of Jarno Trulli, Toyota newcomer Timo took the wheel and quickly continued where Jarno left off. Timo’s task was to continue systems checks and gather information on how the car responds to set-up changes. He was joined by third driver Kamui Kobayashi, who tested the 2008 gearbox and electronics on the TF107. A damp track in the morning meant both drivers waited until after 10.30am to begin their work, when track conditions had improved. An exhaust issue just before lunchtime cost Kamui time but he will be back in action again tomorrow alongside Timo, who will hope for another trouble-free run after registering an impressive 110 laps.

Panasonic Toyota Racing brought its first test of 2008 to a close on positive note with Timo Glock setting the fastest time of the day in the new TF108 at Jerez in Spain today. Timo’s task was to gain as much track time as possible with the new car while also comparing set-up changes and mechanical settings. Kamui Kobayashi was in the TF107 for its final planned official test but rain in the morning led him to sit out the first two hours. With a new car to test, Timo was immediately down to work on the wet track and he made good progress on a lengthy programme before a spin into the gravel just before lunch. No damage was done and after the TF108 was cleaned and checked he resumed, with Kamui now on track looking into set-up and fine-tuning the new gearbox and ECU. Another trouble-free run from TF108 saw Timo end the day on 96 laps, meaning the new car has clocked up an impressive total of over 1,500km over four days. The team will be in action again in Valencia next week when two TF108s are expected to be tested.

Panasonic Toyota Racing’s preparations for the 2008 season continued apace in Valencia today, with the start of the team’s first test with two TF108s in action. After a successful first test in Jerez last week, a second TF108 was brought to Valencia with race drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock doing the driving. On a sunny morning, both drivers were immediately in action, with set-up comparisons the priority. Once again the TF108 proved to be reliable with no major problems on either car, giving the team the chance to change mechanical and aerodynamic settings, as well as looking at different suspension configurations. On a summer-like day, with air temperatures reaching 23°C, both Jarno and Timo completed their programmes and they will return to continue the good work tomorrow.

Panasonic Toyota Racing kept up the good work with another positive day of testing at Valencia, with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock again at the wheel. Another sunny day in Spain meant track conditions were perfect for testing and both drivers focused on set-up, with aerodynamic evaluations high on the priority list along with suspension settings and other mechanical adjustments. The two TF108s ran without trouble all day and, with few red flags to interrupt proceedings, both Jarno and Timo took the opportunity to gather a lot of useful set-up data, with each driver completing more than a race distance. Jarno and Timo will continue tomorrow for the final day of testing at Valencia.

Panasonic Toyota Racing concluded its second test of 2008 with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock once again at the wheel of TF108s on day three at Valencia. As with the previous two days, the team’s focus was on set-up evaluations and Jarno’s programme included several aerodynamic configurations while Timo looked at aerodynamic and mechanical set-up. Timo had to wait to begin work on another sunny day while electrical repairs were carried out but Jarno had a busy start to his session, trying various set-up options. Timo was back on track around midday and he made up for lost time with a busy stint behind the wheel as Jarno continued to gather important information. Despite Timo’s delay in the morning, the TF108 showed strong reliability throughout the three days, completing over 500 laps in total. The test team head to Bahrain next for two tests over six days in a warmer climate, starting on February 4.

Panasonic Toyota Racing got its first test of a double-header in Bahrain underway with Timo Glock and Kamui Kobayashi behind the wheel of two TF108s on a sunny and mild day in the Middle East. The main item on the agenda for Timo was to continue to develop the set-up after solid progress in the last test at Valencia established a strong baseline. Kamui got his first chance to drive the TF108 so began by familiarising himself with the car before making initial set-up changes. Kamui’s programme was interrupted in the morning by a harmless spin but his car suffered no serious damage and he was soon on track again, while Timo’s set-up comparisons continued apace. Timo also found himself in the gravel after a minor afternoon off on a windy day but that did not stop him completing his mechanical set-up programme. He will be joined tomorrow by Jarno Trulli and the team expects to use the remainder of the test to continue set-up work, as well as making cooling checks in the warmer Bahraini weather and evaluating development items.

Panasonic Toyota Racing was back in action for day two of its double-header Bahrain test today with race drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock taking the wheel of the TF108. A warm and sunny morning made for perfect testing conditions and both drivers were kept busy working on programmes of mechanical set-up changes. Some development items were also evaluated and other systems checks were carried out, however both cars suffered gearbox issues in the afternoon, costing some time as repairs were carried out. Jarno will continue his programme on day three tomorrow, alongside third driver Kamui Kobayashi.

Panasonic Toyota Racing brought the first part of its Bahrain test to a close today with Jarno Trulli and Kamui Kobayashi resuming work on set-up and development items on day three. Both drivers looked at different mechanical set-up options, gathering important information for the team to study in order to get more out of the TF108. Kamui also completed some practice pit stops and neither driver suffered any reliability problems which enabled both to complete all their planned work on a warm and sunny day. The team will remain in Bahrain for another three-day test which starts on Saturday, with Jarno and Timo Glock at the wheel.

Panasonic Toyota Racing was back in action at the Bahrain International Circuit today for the start of another three-day test. Race drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were behind the wheel on a hot and sunny day in the Middle East to resume the team’s programme of set-up development. The warm weather also gave the team another chance to monitor the cooling characteristics of the TF108, which features a revised cooling lay-out. As well as looking at different mechanical set-ups, aerodynamic work was also carried out and some development items evaluated while practice pit stops took place after the day’s running had ended in preparation for a Grand Prix simulation tomorrow. Another trouble-free day saw Jarno and Timo complete their full programmes, gathering useful set-up information, and both drivers will continue preparations for the new season tomorrow.

Panasonic Toyota Racing stepped up its preparations for the 2008 season with a Grand Prix simulation today in testing at Bahrain. Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were given the task of driving during a simulation which included practice, qualifying and a race distance, including fuel and tyre pit stops. The morning’s work consisted of practice before a simulated qualifying session while at 1.30pm sharp, the race procedure began and Jarno and Timo proceeded to the grid to begin the test. The TF108s once again showed strong reliability while the pit crew performed flawlessly despite almost four months since the last race of the 2007 season and the information gathered during this simulation will help the team optimise the TF108 package before the start of the season. Jarno and Timo will return their focus to set-up comparisons for the final day of testing in Bahrain tomorrow.

Panasonic Toyota Racing brought its stay in Bahrain to a close with day three of the second test at the Bahrain International Circuit. Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock once again did the driving but, after a successful Grand Prix simulation yesterday, their focus returned to mechanical and aerodynamic set-up work. Both cars ran without any trouble, with Jarno and Timo completing their full programme of set-up comparisons. As the session drew to a close, the team was able to conduct practice warm-up laps and starts on the grid, gathering useful information about this process. The team will be back in the Middle East for the Bahrain Grand Prix on 6 April while the next engagement is a three-day test in Barcelona, beginning on 19 February.

Following two weeks of work in the heat of Bahrain, it was a return to winter testing in its truest form for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team today. Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya provided a cold, grey setting for the start of this week’s running. There was light rain around the circuit at regular intervals throughout the day and temperatures only just made it into double figures. The team was planning to carry out comparative work on the TF108’s new aerodynamics package. The unsettled weather made that difficult but Jarno Trulli still put in 57 laps. Third driver Kamui Kobayashi had a quieter day’s work because limits to mileage and tyres meant there was little point in running in these conditions. Toyota will continue testing at the Circuit de Catalunya tomorrow with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock driving.

Following two weeks of work in the heat of Bahrain, it was a return to winter testing in its truest form for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team today. Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya provided a cold, grey setting for the start of this week’s running. There was light rain around the circuit at regular intervals throughout the day and temperatures only just made it into double figures. The team was planning to carry out comparative work on the TF108’s new aerodynamics package. The unsettled weather made that difficult but Jarno Trulli still put in 57 laps. Third driver Kamui Kobayashi had a quieter day’s work because limits to mileage and tyres meant there was little point in running in these conditions. Toyota will continue testing at the Circuit de Catalunya tomorrow with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock driving.

After two days of rain, the sun finally ventured out on Thursday in Barcelona, to the relief of the six teams at the Circuit de Catalunya. Panasonic Toyota Racing was among them, taking advantage of the improved conditions to put in a full programme. Timo Glock spent the day working with the new package of aerodynamics, putting in over 100 laps. Third driver Kamui Kobayashi was in action in the other car, carrying out work on the engine, cooling and set-up. Toyota will return to the same track next week for the last three-day test of the winter as it begins the final phase of its preparations for Australian Grand Prix that will open the 2008 Formula 1 season on March 16.

Following last week’s weather-affected test at the Circuit de Catalunya, the F1 teams gathered again in Barcelona hoping for better conditions this week. Unfortunately it was not to be and overnight rain again guaranteed a damp track this morning. For Panasonic Toyota Racing, Timo Glock and third driver Kamui Kobayashi were at the wheel. Timo had a full day’s running, putting in 70 laps of work on mechanical set-up. Kamui had his running restricted in the unsettled conditions to preserve mileage and tyres. Toyota will continue testing at the Circuit de Catalunya tomorrow with Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock scheduled to drive.

After so much poor weather at Barcelona over the past two weeks it was a welcome relief for all the teams to have a full day of dry running today. Panasonic Toyota Racing has this week brought two cars featuring its new aerodynamics package for the first time. So race drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock both had busy days as the team collects data in preparation for the Australian Grand Prix on March 16. Both drivers did aero testing today along with work on brakes and set-up. Timo and Jarno will return to the track tomorrow hoping for similar conditions for the last full day of testing before Melbourne.

The good weather continued at Barcelona for the last day of official winter testing before the start of the 2008 Formula 1 season. Panasonic Toyota Racing used the time available to carry out final preparations for the Australian Grand Prix, now just over a fortnight away. Race drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock worked on fine-tuning set-ups and finishing off their groundwork for the first race. Jarno even set the fastest time of the day during a qualifying run while the track was at its best in the morning. He finished with 83 laps while Timo managed 65 after a more disrupted day. The next time Toyota will be on track with the rest of the F1 grid will be in Melbourne for Friday practice on March 14.