Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Veteran Jarno Trulli aims to prove that Toyota is back on track after two seasons in the wilderness and when he returns to the kingdom for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix it will be for another podium finish.
The popular Italian F1 driver was recently testing at the Sakhir circuit but told GulfWeekly he has fonder memories of 2005 when he picked up second place behind the elusive Fernando Alonso.
This year's competition kicks off shortly in Australia and racing pundits predict it will be one of the closest ever fought with the big guns of McLaren and Ferrari being chased all the way to glory by Toyota, BMW-Sauber and Red Bull.
He said: "We are fighting hard to prepare for the season so come to the Bahrain International Circuit on April 6 and support the Panasonic Toyota Racing team!
"So far the preparations are going well. Me, and the team, have worked really hard on the new car and we have made good progress understanding and improving the set-up. This car is faster than the 2007 car and I think there is more potential for improvement throughout the season.
"My favourite racing memory from Bahrain comes from 2005 when I finished second; that was a great result for the team.
"Bahrain is incredible as a Formula 1 venue. The facilities are state-of-the-art and the team has everything it needs. The track is modern and gives you an opportunity to overtake and there are also some quite interesting corners.
"It is not a particularly technical track for a driver but it is hard on braking. There are very long straights so we need top speed but also good braking stability for the hard braking from high speed so you have to set the car up with this in mind.
"You also have to consider the wind, which makes life a bit tricky as it affects the balance of the car. There always seems to be wind and this can change from lap to lap so you have to be able to adjust. Apart from that, the track requires the same qualities as most others - you have to be very consistent and concentrate at all times."
Rule changes this season will certainly test the drivers' mettle and Trulli, who built up his driving prowess from the age of three by becoming king of the karting circuits, said: "I agree with the ban on traction control. For me it is good to limit driver aids and give control of the car back to the driver more. It's more fun to drive without traction control so I am looking forward to this season."
Trulli's first and only F1 race win came under Renault's colours in Monaco, in 2004. The following year, after achieving Panasonic Toyota Racing's first front row start by qualifying second in Australia, Trulli repeated that feat for the next race, the 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix. Then, maintaining his position throughout the race, Jarno scored Panasonic Toyota Racing's historic first podium with his second place at Sepang, behind Alonso.
He followed this up with two more podiums, second place in Bahrain and third place in Spain. After a second half to the season of mixed fortunes, Trulli, nevertheless, achieved 7th place in the WDC with 43 points, having helped his Toyota team to 4th place in the Constructors' Championship, an improvement on 8th place the previous year.
Toyota, however, was unable to sustain the level of progress in 2006. Having changed tyre companies, the team struggled to make the tyres work with the chassis.
Last year was also a disappointing season for Trulli and Toyota. The TF107 car did not work well with the new Bridgestone tyres, supplied to all the teams. It was difficult to get the required temperature into the tyres and they only performed well when the track was very hot. As a result, he only managed to score eight points in the drivers' championship and Toyota only 13 points in the constructors' championship.
Trulli's best result was 6th place in the US GP, but he did qualify in the top 10 for 14 of the 17 races, which was no mean achievement considering his team mate, Ralf Schumacher, only got into the top 10 five times in the same car.
Trulli, 34, has a new team-mate at Toyota in 2008 - GP2 Series champion Timo Glock. He added, with a message to young pretenders hoping to make the grade: "The most important thing is to work hard and never give up. It is extremely difficult to reach Formula 1, even if you are very talented, and you have to give 100 per cent all the time."
