Toyota ace turns guru

Jarno Trulli, who has a home in the Alpine resort of Pontresina, will next week teach the Swiss ski team in the subtle art of how to drive a racing car very fast. The likes of Didier Cuche, Daniel Albrecht and Marc Berthod will assemble at an airfield in the Swiss municipality of Bad Ragaz for a lesson from Toyota’s evergreen pilot.

Maybe in the winter, Cuche and co. will return the favour and teach Trulli how to ski like a downhill racer.

[Blick]

A team’s eye view of Spain’s new street circuit

An intriguing insight into the shiny new venue for Sunday’s European Grand Prix, brought to you by Jarno Trulli and his Toyota pals.

Most important of all: the track is near a harbour. Because what F1 really needed was another venue where you could get pissed up on a yacht and still enjoy the action. Move over Monaco.

Grid Crasher didn’t realise the track was quite so close to the beach: we wouldn’t want to be catching a few rays, only for a stray Bridgestone to bounce across the sand in our general direction.

Toro Rosso’s rising star shines in Spain

Seb Vettel was quickest at Jerez yesterday, although he was one of only two grand prix drivers to test - Toyota’s Jarno Trulli was the other. Vettel and Trulli apart, Tuesday was a chance for the test drivers to do what they’re paid for.

Full timesheet below:

Struggling German driver not short on self-confidence

Timo Glock is a very talented driver, for sure, but he’s struggled to match Toyota team-mate Jarno Trulli this season. Okay, Trulli is having the season of his life, but we’d expect Glock to be a little closer to the veteran Italian.

Glock has just five points to his name so far this year, compared with Trulli’s 20-point haul. That hasn’t stopped the 26-year-old German from stating that his ambition is to be world champion - in a Toyota - in 2010. Yep, you read that right.

Jarno Trulli forced into particularly gay pose

As well as racing the Batmobile around Silverstone yesterday, Toyota’s drivers also posed for photos with the two-wheeled Bat-Pod.

Jarno Trulli drew the short straw and was asked to get on the bike, adopting an arse-out riding position that reminded us of Mr Garrison’s genius “IT” vehicle from South Park.

If you haven’t seen the IT in action, shame on you. Check it out below…

The best pics from Magny Cours

Nick Heidfeld and Bobby Kubica enjoy a cheese and wine tasting session. Nick, in particular, seems to be having a fine time. Question (we have asked it before): why do the poor BMW drivers always get to do the shittiest PR set-ups? You wouldn’t catch Kimi Raikkonen sat in a field before a GP, with a wooden tray of brie and grapes laid out in front of him.

More pics this way…

Who got lost in France?

Five winners:

1. Felipe Massa (1st) Won a race that he didn’t really deserve to win, though that’s no criticism of Ferrari’s No.2, who could yet win the world title - especially if Kimi continues to have zero luck.

2. Nelson Piquet Jnr (7th) Wouhou, at last! Junior brings his Renault home in a points-paying position. Now we could see a totally different Piquet. Or not.