The Scuderia Toro Rosso team have completed the trio of new car launches on Monday at the Jerez circuit in Spain, revealing their own not particularly attractive take on the 2012-spec stepped nose phenomenon for their STR7 challenger.
The new STR7 has become the eighth new Formula One car to be revealed, and the third launch to take place on Monday ahead of the start of pre-season testing tomorrow.
The car is the latest to mercilessly inflict one of the new 2012-spec 'platypus wings' on the eyes of F1 fans, with Toro Rosso choosing to go with the flow in design for this season.
Their version of the nose, however, appears to be one of the more aggressive designs, with the dropped section of the nose itself appearing to be thinner than many of the other designs.
The car also boasts what looks like a lower-slung engine cover than already-revealed rival cars, as well as top-exiting exhausts in line with the new 2012 FIA rulebook.
There is also an increased amount of extra non-Red Bull sponsorship on the car, after the junior team recently extended deals with a number of companies, including petrol firm CEPSA and the Falcon Private Bank.
Speaking at the launch, team boss Franz Tost said that the sponsors had helped the team to push further in developing their car than ever before for this season.
"The STR7 is the third car designed, fabricated and assembled completely by Toro Rosso," he bragged.
"We have invested a lot of money to build up the infrastructure and I hope the results will be good in the forthcoming season. This investment was only possible because we have strong partners."
He went on: "Tomorrow we go out the first time with the new car and it is always something very special."
He added that the team would be aiming to improve by a single step in the constructors standings, targeting 7th place for 2012.
"We have two new highly skilled drivers and I am convinced both will do a very good job," Tost explained.
"Last year we finished eighth in constructors' and this year we hope to do better, so seventh or more."
He added that he was not concerned about entering the new season with their current inexperienced line-up of drivers.
"I always say after three years we have to evaluate a driver, and therefore we decided – or Red Bull decided – to come up with a new driver line-up," he explained.
"I'm quite convinced that Daniel Ricciardo, as well as Jean-Eric Vergne, will do a good job. They were quite successful in the young driver classes, both of them won championships.
“I convinced we have a good basis. The rest we will see. To come into F1 is one thing. To be in F1 and to make the next step forward and develop is another question."
He added: "That’s the role of Toro Rosso. I'm looking forward to being involved in this project and I’m looking forward to working with these drivers."
The STR7, the third car the team has designed in-house following the ban on customer cars, will be campaigned by the all-new lineup of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne this season.
Ricciardo will debut the new car on track in the opening day of pre-season testing tomorrow.
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