Feb.13 (GMM) Before a single racing lap has been completed in 2008, Jarno Trulli has declared Ferrari as the near-certain world champions.

The Toyota driver last week spent six days testing alongside the Maranello based marque in Bahrain, where the performance of Ferrari's F2008 seemed ominous for the other team teams.

"In my opinion they are at least half a second faster per lap, even considering McLaren," Trulli told the Italian specialist weekly Autosprint.

"The championship already looks over to me before it has started," he added.

The 33-year-old said he marvelled at how Ferrari's 2008 machine is adapted perfectly to the new ban on traction control.

"When you watch their performance on the track your arms drop," Trulli said, also describing the pace of the F2008 as "disconcerting".

Trulli also said Toyota, with its 2008 car, the TF108, cannot hope to compete with either Ferrari or its closest competitor McLaren.

"Ferrari and McLaren are out of reach for us, so it is unrealistic to talk about podiums," he said.

Trulli said the Japanese team is hoping to challenge rivals including BMW, Renault and Williams this year, "but it's impossible to go any further".