The Toyota Formula One team have brought in another senior management figure in a push to win an elusive first grand prix.

Toyota said Tadashi Yamashina, who oversees motorsport-related activities for the Japanese carmaker, had been appointed vice-chairman of the Cologne-based team.

"The aim is to strengthen Toyota's Formula One technical development and race strategy structures in advance of the 2007 F1 season," the team said.

Yamashina will work with team principal and chairman Tsutomu Tomita and Toyota Motorsport GmbH president John Howett in running the team.

"With the addition of Yamashina as vice chairman, the three of us... will challenge to lead our team to its first victory," said Tomita.

Big-budget Toyota entered Formula One in 2002 but in five seasons have yet to join the winners' circle.

They finished sixth overall this year. In 87 races to date, their best results remain Italian Jarno Trulli's second places in Malaysia and Bahrain in 2005.