Pre-Season Event14.01.2006

On January 14, Panasonic Toyota Racing unveiled the new “TF106,” the car that the team will be racing during the 2006 F1 season. The event was held at the facilities of Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (“TMMF”), located in Valenciennes. As of November 28, the team had already run their new car through shakedown testing, earlier than any other team participating in the 2006 F1 series. As such, the event on January 14 was considered more of a “Pre-season Event” than a preliminary rollout.

Last year, the TF105 was unveiled at an old train station located in Barcelona, a site selected for its convenient proximity to the testing circuit. This year, the site selected for the unveiling ceremony was the factory that produces the Toyota Yaris (“Vitz” in Japan). TMMF began operations in January 2001, and has since continued to produce the Yaris. Having just changed the production line over for the new model, the factory will produce 270,000 vehicles annually. The nearly 4,000 TMMF employees are responsible for production output representing one quarter of all Toyota vehicles sold in Europe. Valenciennes, which is located near the Belgian border, is two hours by car from Paris, and approximately three hours by car from TMG headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

Panasonic Toyota Racing selected the TMMF manufacturing facilities to serve as a symbol that both F1 racing activities and passenger vehicle production activities are conducted under the same umbrella within the Toyota Family. The site selection also demonstrates that Toyota tirelessly approaches both racing and manufacturing operations according to the “Toyota Way,” the identity and philosophy of Toyota Motor Corporation, built on the foundation of the “Toyota Production System (TPS)” and the principle of “kaizen.”

A tour of the newly refurbished factory facilities was incorporated into the schedule preceding the unveiling of the TF106 scheduled for noon. The tour was conducted by approximately 150 TMMF employees, each dressed in fashionable work clothes, serving as guides to the 250 or so journalists who had arrived from around the globe. The employees explained the press and welding operations at the factory, showing how the Toyota Way has influenced efficiency gains in these areas.

The idea of having guests tour the orderly factory to observe the Toyota Way in operation, and then ending the tour at the stage for the unveiling of the TF106 turned out to be very clever indeed. As the TF106 remained hidden under a red cloth, guests could see the Yaris vehicles in the background, moving smartly along the production line. After a brief welcome given by the TMMF president, TMG president John Howett came to the stage. In his remarks, he emphasized, “We have truly experienced the results of TPS.” Mr. Howett went on to explain that the role of TPS—the DNA of Toyota Motor Corporation—could not be overlooked in the speed with which the TF106 was completed.

Next, Tsutomu Tomita, TMG chairman and team principal, expressed his pleasure at being able to unveil the team’s new race car in facilities as wonderful as those at TMMF. Mr. Tomita declared, “Our goal for 2006 is to capture our first victory in F1 competition.” The chairman also spoke of his desire to rely not only on the efforts of TMG, but to capitalize on the cooperative relationship between TMG and Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, making the most of the strengths available with having both chassis and engine development under the same roof.

Next, the two directors leading the closely coordinated chassis and engine development operations, Messrs. Luca Marmorini and Mike Gascoyne, addressed the audience. Mr. Marmorini, Technical Director Engine, reported that his team was able to overcome various challenges, completing development for the new 2.4 liter V8 engine required for the 2006 F1 season without any major complications. Mr. Gascoyne, Technical Director Chassis, further explained, “The TF106 clearly reflects the results of kaizen, a continued pursuit of unflagging development.” Mr. Gascoyne also clarified team plans, saying, “We are prepared with a new aerodynamics package for the first race of the season, and we plan to introduce the upgraded TF106B before the Monaco GP.”

And finally, the drivers made their appearance. In addition to regular drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, third driver Ricardo Zonta was also on hand. The drivers were wearing their racing suits, newly designed with the recent partnership between Panasonic Toyota Racing and Alpinestars. The new suits featured a vivid vertical white background, set off with a visually dynamic design.

Zonta started off, saying, “There have been many changes, including the transition from a V10 to a V8 engine, and our change to Bridgestone tires, but all in all, I have a very good impression of how things are progressing.” Trulli commented, “While the V8 engine represents a step backward in a sense, it’s actually very fun to drive. I think we are headed in the right direction.”

Toyota Motor Corporate vice president Kazuo Okamoto made a surprising entrance behind the wheel of the Toyota “i-Swing,” a one-passenger electric vehicle representing the quintessence of Toyota Technology. With the appearance of Mr. Okamoto, the two regular drivers moved to the center of the stage, pulling back the red cloth to reveal the TF106 to the reporters gathered. A closer inspection revealed the new Intel logo design, the partnership with Intel only recently having been renewed. With the combination of the new car and the new driver racing suits, the audience appeared to be caught up in the fresh, exciting energy surrounding the unveiling of the TF106.