Trulli hopes Sepang was just the start

JARNO TRULLI

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Monday 24th March 2008

Jarno Trulli hopes that Toyota can build upon the fourth place he scored in the Malaysian Grand Prix as the 2008 Formula One season unfolds.

The 33-year-old held off Lewis Hamilton at the chequered flag to record the Cologne-based team's best finish since former team-mate Ralf Schumacher finished fourth in the 2006 French Grand Prix.

The result acted as vindicaton for the Italian veteran - both of his own ability to still get the job done and of the team's hard work during the winter after a disappointing 2007 season.

"For me, it is so nice to be back in the points," said Trulli, who scored Toyota's first podium finish at the 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix.

"And after such a strong race. I am especially happy for the team both here and in Cologne.

"This result is mainly down to their work over the winter and I dedicate it to them.

"I just hope now that we can carry on improving with the performance of the car because at the end of winter testing we were strong.

"I am also a strong person. I have believed always in myself and this proved that if I have the right car, it has the performance and the potential, I can do the job.

"I have always believed this. I am not old and I am still keen for my next win!"

Trulli, who has one grand prix victory - scored at Monaco in 2004 - from 183 starts, added his belief that experience can have its benefits in the cockpit of an F1 car.

"When you are older you are stronger in a different way," he said. "I feel I am capable of being a better driver now than earlier in my career with Renault and the other teams."

On his race, Trulli added: "I had a difficult first corner, I lost grip and I ran wide and then I touched Nick Heidfeld and lost some ground.

"But after that I felt I could keep up with the McLarens. We made it past Mark Webber as the team did a great job at the pit stops and in the end I had a great fight with Lewis Hamilton.

"We were pushing each other very hard. He was obviously slightly quicker than me, but I gave it 100 percent and thanks to the team and a trouble-free weekend we got our reward with fourth place."

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