The Strength of Toyota and Two New Top Drivers
• One can imagine that the new regulations for car specifications implemented this year will have different effects depending on whether you’re racing at a “stop & go” track or a high-speed circuit. Which type of circuit do you think best suits the Toyota car as it is now?
Hmm…to be honest, I’m not sure, yet. Every team has had to re-think their aerodynamics because of the new regulations. I think every team is going to have some challenges with the stop & go circuits. Everyone has been affected equally by the changes in aerodynamics, and the same can also be said for the tires. One of the biggest factors this year will be how effectively teams use their tires.

• I would think that Jarno and Ralf’s different driving styles would also influence how the cars are set up, right?
Fortunately for us, both drivers have a style that’s pretty easy on tires. I think throughout the course of a race, you will see some clever driving to ensure their tires last to the end.

• Having watched these drivers in the past, it seems that Jarno is a driver who is extremely fast in single-lap qualifying, while Ralf drives a more consistent race. How would you describe their driving styles, given that you have seen both of them driving the Toyota cars in tests?
Yes, I think an outsider might get that impression…well, seeing both of them during testing, I guess your impression could be pretty accurate as far as each of their strengths. But the greatest impression I have is that the weaknesses generally identified with these two drivers by the critics aren’t really all that significant. Jarno does drive fast laps in qualifying, but I don’t agree with critics who say that you never know which Jarno will show up for the race—that he gets moody. For Ralf, most people agree that he is very solid during the race, but that there are doubts about single-lap qualifying. But I have to tell, Ralf is fast! Each of our drivers are fast, and they both perform superbly during races. In other words, I think we have two excellent drivers who will push each other to better and greater performances.

Heading into the Japanese GP with even Higher Expectations
• I think every team probably has at least one grand prix race that they really want to win more than any other. Which race is that for you?
Of course, that would be the Japanese GP. But the Japanese GP is the second-to-last race of the season. It wouldn’t be right to ask fans to wait that long before they see us succeed. Our goal is to get to the top spot on the winner’s stand as soon as we can. I think one step further would be for us to come to the Japanese GP with an outstanding record—to have fans come to the race with even higher expectations.

• Do you think you have a chance to reach the winner’s stand?
We have more than a chance. We intend to be there.

[Postscript]
Just as Mr. Takahashi boldly predicted, Jarno Trulli drove his Toyota TF105 to a second-place finish at the second race of the season—the Malaysian Grand Prix! Toyota has accomplished its first goal of reaching the winner’s stand as early as possible. This season’s Japanese GP looks like it will be especially exciting for Panasonic Toyota Racing, their fans, and Japan as a whole.