Ralf Schumacher believes Toyota are capable of scoring their first Formula One victory this year.
The well-funded team claimed their first podium and pole positions in 2005, their fourth season of grand prix racing.
Now Schumacher wants that improvement to continue and claims race wins are within Toyota's sights for 2006.
He said: "As last year, we are hopeful that we can make a strong start to the season, because just like the chassis side, the engine department under Luca Marmorini has done a great job.
"The target for 2006 is to win some races and I think it should be realistic after the podiums we had last year. People on the outside expect that we could score one or two victories and I do think that should be possible."
Toyota were the first team to test their 2006 car and Schumacher has been impressed by his new machine.
After testing resumed at Jerez, he added: "There are no really big changes to the car since the last test in December and we are still concentrating on adapting the car to the Bridgestone tyres and putting mileage on gearboxes and engines.
"In general the car feels very good, with the new rear end being a step forward. It is still quite difficult to draw firm conclusions in cold conditions."
Schumacher’s optimism may be founded upon rumours that he is to be joined on the team by his brother, seven time world champion Michael.
The latter’s manager hinted in a German newspaper interview yesterday that the former world champion could move to big-spending Toyota.
Schumacher complained about Ferrari's lack of competitiveness last year in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine, and Willi Weber mentioned Toyota's 'Nothing is impossible' advertising slogan in yesterday's Bild.
"There have always been surprises in Formula One," Weber said, when asked about Schumacher's situation. "And even if McLaren has (Fernando) Alonso in 2007, there are still big players in the market."
Schumacher (37) finished a distant third behind Renault's Alonso and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonenin 2005.