After the unveiling of the new TF109 Formula One car that the team hopes will provide them with a successful campaign in 2009, Toyota headed to the circuit of Portimao, Portugal, for two days of intense testing with the aim of propelling their car to the front of the field when normal service is resumed at the season opening event in Melbourne, Australia, on March 26th 2009.

The new campaign sees a variety of changes and additions implemented to the rulebook which Toyota will have to comply to with the aim of initiating closer and more entertaining races. One of the many changes includes a move back to slick tires after ten years on grooved tires which drivers felt provided less grip and spoiled the spectacle of the event. The FIA has documented that the new slick tires should give 20% better performance to the teams leading to a series of other changes being implemented to try and keep the playing field level.

Aerodynamics changes ensure that any performance gain the driver or team would have benefitted from through the new tires is dramatically reduced. The aim of the new regulations is to increase overtaking by reducing the amount of turbulence that the chasing driver’s car is subjected to when following close in an on track battle. The FIA has specified a tight and restrictive set of guidelines for the design of the new front and rear wings, whilst also banning the use of barge boards, winglets, turning vanes and chimneys.

To add to this, engine performance is reduced slightly with the ceiling on the rev limit brought down one thousand revs from 19,000 to 18,000, whilst teams are only permitted to use a total of eight engines per driver per season. An optional bonus for some teams is the use of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) which utilizes the wasted energy obtained under braking to charge a boost. The boost can then be used over the course of the lap to enhance the performance of the car. It is estimated that the boost will last for just under seven seconds per lap and equates to around an additional 80bhp. However, the teams need to justify whether the advantage of additional power will outweigh the penalty of the extra weight needed to carry the system.

With this in mind, many eyes were eagerly glued to their internet browsers on the 15th January 2009 when Toyota hosted a special presentation launch of its latest flagship over the World Wide Web. Although at first glance the new machines might look very outlandish compared to their predecessor, what they may lack in looks they certainly make up for in performance. The latest evolution of the brand, the TF109, features a 2.4 litre, 8 cylinder engine which produces in excess of 700bhp, staggering figures, especially when you consider that the whole car including the driver only weighs 605kg.

Bright and early on Monday morning the Toyota team set to work with test driver Kamui Kobayashi, who undertook the first few laps with the new chariot around the Portimao circuit.

Although the weather wasn’t abundantly helpful, providing the team with changeable conditions, they still managed to work productively, with Kamui spending large portions of the day working towards performing system checks and evaluating the new KERS systems.

Speaking afterwards Kamui commented : “Today has gone well and I am happy with the new car. It has been an interesting experience to drive with KERS for the first time and we are understanding more about the system all the time.”

These tests will provide valuable data to the Toyota mechanics for the campaign ahead with everyone only too aware that failure to deliver in the current financial crisis could lead to further losses from the sport.

Toyota’s Formula One president John Howett is realistic in his assessment of the current situation facing his team.

"We have a great team of people and I think we just feel we need to win and it is about time we won. We need a strong season. If we have a weak season we have no future. Whether we really have to win to stay is difficult to say, but we feel we have to win. It is our desire and our passion shared by our people in Cologne. We feel we must win, and then we can cement and secure a very bright future in F1.”

On Tuesday the testing duties fell to Jarno Trulli as he got the chance to evaluate the TF109 for the first time.

The state of play is looking optimistic for Toyota for a prosperous and productive season ahead. The team has set itself some ambitious goals over the winter, with the main aim being to take that elusive first victory. It’s been a tough road battling to try to get to the head of the pack for the World’s largest car manufacturer, but if they can keep up their pre season form then hopefully in 2009 the car in front will be a Toyota.