Toyota Racing will unveil their 2008 race car live over the internet so fans can catch every moment of the official launch. You can check out all the action via streaming video on the Toyota racing website Thursday January 10th at 10:30 AM German Standard Time.

(http://www.toyota-f1.com/public/en/index_e.html)

Toyota management are launching their contender just as news surfaces that the team have been told they have just two more years to produce some serious results in F1 or else! Nearly a decade after they started and with the biggest budget in F1, the world’s largest automaker has accomplished very little. The serious concern for F1 is whether the ultimatum was directed at the racing team’s management or Toyota’s commitment to continue in F1 at all.

Veteran driver Jarno Trulli and newcomer Timo Glock will campaign for Toyota this season. Some may remember that Timo drove briefly for Jordan (nee Midland; nee Spyker; nee Force India) a few years ago. Timo went on to race in Champ Cars before heading back to Europe for GP2.

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F1 fans rejoice! The pre-season of F1 has begun with the launch Sunday (January 6, 2008) of the the aptly (and temporarily?) named Ferrari F2008. We can now expect a weekly diet from the F1 teams as they reveal their ‘08 challengers in an atmosphere of increasingly antiseptic corporate flair.

Its unlikely we’ll see The Who rocking out while Teutonic BMW executives pull back the covers on their new car. It just wouldn’t be an efficient use of the shareholders money, would it? Maybe Red Bull or Torro Rosso will make some noise this season but never like it was in the 90’s. No Spice Girls, no Albert Hall, just suits.

So while we might mourn the loss of Posh, Baby et al , one thing will certainly live on - the affirmation that this year will be: 1. a better year; 2. a breakout year; 3. ‘The’ year. Honestly, after so many ‘breakout’ and ‘better’ years, you would think “insert team name here” would have won a championship or even a race by now.

How refreshing would it be to see a press release that said, ‘This year, we won’t be fined back to the dark ages.’ or ‘We’re confident the race car is significantly faster than the safety car this year.’ Just give us something tangible.

But I digress…

With every launch and every press release, we’re closer to the start of the season. If you need your F1 fix as badly as I do, the launch dates for each team are listed below (or updated as they are announced).

• Ferrari - January 6
• McLaren - January 7
• Toyota - January 10
• BMW-Sauber - January 14-15
• Red Bull - January 16
• Honda - January 29
• Renault - January 31
• Williams - * (see below)
• Force India-
• Toro Rosso -
• Super Aguri -

* Williams F1 have opted not to officially launch their car. With a respectable 2007 performance in the can and a catalog of sponsors in its pocket, maybe Williams felt the didn’t need to tell any tall tales this season and plan to just get on with it. Very British, very Frank.

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