Panasonic F1 T108 Mid-Season Assessment Review :: The EDJE

Excerpts from the “shotlist” narration of video released by Toyota earlier this week. The statements contained in the video show the intensity of the Toyota T108 effort.

Video Title - Panasonic Toyota Racing - 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix Feature: MID-SEASON [Source: Toyota Motorsport - 28-Jul-2008]

00.00.32 Narration:
When the TF108 was launched in January, the target was clear – score more points than 2007 and return to the podium.

00.00.49 Pascal Vasselon
Senior General Manager Chassis, Panasonic Toyota Racing
From the very beginning of the pre-season testing we have seen that the 108 was achieving one of its most important improvement target, which was global stability and balance consistency, so we have seen that from the very beginning. Then just before the opening race in Melbourne the performance came.

00.01.15 Fourth places from Jarno in Malaysia and Timo in Canada were encouraging – and then came Jarno’s third place in France.

00.01.23 Pascal Vasselon
Senior General Manager Chassis, Panasonic Toyota Racing
So no doubt we have made a big step and at the moment we can only be happy about this first half of the season because we have achieved one of our objectives this season, which was to come back to the podium. We have achieved a podium on merit in Magny Cours and we are currently fourth in the championship.

00.01.50 John Howett
President, Panasonic Toyota Racing
Panasonic Toyota Racing – I think we’ve had the strongest season for a long time, both drivers are doing very well. Clearly I think it’s a very strong season from Jarno; Timo’s done a very, very good job, I think the best rookie this season. Without question. And overall we’re fighting at the top level of the following team but in front of us are three very strong competitors. So good season but still a lot more to do before we become a clear and consistent winning team which is our ambition.

00.02.33 John Howett
President, Panasonic Toyota Racing
I think Jarno’s had probably the strongest season he’s had with us, he had a great season in 2005 with a lot of podiums but I think this year when you really look at his total pace, the result again in France was outstanding and also at Silverstone in the way that he drove – probably his strongest race in the wet for a long time.

00.04.12 Dieter Gass
Chief Engineer Race and Test, Panasonic Toyota Racing
Well we are in the middle of the in fight in a very big and competitive mid-field actually I think we can clearly say they’re three teams on the top which are still with a reasonable gap in front of the mid field. And this med-field is consisting of four or even five teams now which are extremely close together fighting on a very good level and the target is always to be on top of the mid-field and score points but obviously we are aiming for more and we are pushing very very hard to close the gap from the top.

00.04.50 John Howett
President, Panasonic Toyota Racing
As we approach the second half of the season we really have to continue to squeeze as much performance out of the 108 as we can. If possible continue to score points regularly, maintain the 4th position in the championship – but without compromising the 109 development, so a very challenging second half of the year.

00.05.24 ENDS

With eight races left, it looks as though Toyota is poised to maintain and improve on their season development this year … as the best of the rest.