Toyota Formula 1 Team

[RedLiner]

Does anyone follow Formula 1??

And if so do you follow the Toyota team??

If you guys are interested we can make this into a news and results thread about the team.

Or is it irrelevant to this website?

[perthcamry]

Yes I do and yes its a good idea :)

[MR22ZZ]

and yes we have a thread that I kept pretty updated but didn't get a lot of interest so stopped posting...

out of interest I'll let you all know that Jarno Trulli posted the fastest time at Barcelona in the 1st day of post season testing today though not 100% on whether he was running the V10 or V8 at the time as they had both at the circuit.

[evo]

didn't they realise the TF106 yesterday hence should be a v8?

the bodywork and suspension geometry would be catered purely for the v8.

pretty sure it's v8 times.

other news:

interim WilliamsF1 livery

Edited November 30, 2005 by evo

[MR22ZZ]

I've got some better pics...

give me 5 and I'll pop them up

PS the 'temperary' Williams colour I love, looks VERY retro :D

[MR22ZZ]

Toyota launch...

[MR22ZZ]

Williams interum trim

I like the colour very much :D :P

[RedLiner]

The Toyota car looks hot...

I think its the best looking behind the McLaren...

The Interim colours for the williams are from the 1960's.

[RedLiner]

Renowned for its early car launches, Toyota has raised the standards yet again by unleashing its 2006 race car over three months before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled for 12 March. Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne believes such a head start could offer the Cologne-based team a significant time advantage over its rivals ahead of the winter holiday period.

“We have been working on the TF106 since the end of 2004,” Gascoyne reveals, “and the introduction of this car at such an early stage is a true testament to the work of the team and shows that we are able to react and push forward at a rate that is necessary to be at the forefront of Formula 1.”

The TF106 marries a brand new rear end, designed to accommodate Toyota’s latest specification V8 engine, with a development of the monocoque and front suspension of its pole-setting, podium-scoring TF105B interim car that was brought in for the final two races of the 2005 season.

“The TF106 that will run in Barcelona marks the first stage of development for this car with continuous improvements planned in the run-up to the first race. We are adopting a similar schedule to last season by testing the car early. This allows us to develop the mechanical side of car thoroughly before we introduce a new aero package in time for the first race. This strategy helped us to be extremely competitive at the start 2005 and we are confident the same will happen in 2006.”

“The front end of the TF106 is an evolution of our TF105B that raced in Japan and China, but the major design change for 2006 has been the implementation of the V8 engine in line with the new technical regulations, which has resulted in the redesign of the rear end,” added Gascoyne.

Panasonic Toyota Racing experienced just one engine retirement over 19 race weekends in 2005, an impressive statistic given the increase to two-race reliability demands for last season. Such an enviable record, coupled with the strong performance of Toyota’s V10 in its comparatively short F1 history, have provided invaluable foundations for development of the V8 power unit according to Technical Director Engine Luca Marmorini.

“With such strenuous reliability rules, we cannot afford to make jumps in the dark,” explains Marmorini. “We cannot compromise the performance of the engine, so we have concentrated on reducing the performance loss. We have a strong core team of engine engineers here at Toyota, built up from six years of F1 engine development. This impassioned teamwork is our advantage and our strongest asset.”

Mike Gascoyne is quick to back up his engine counterpart: “Luca and his team have done an exceptional job, which has had a positive knock-on effect for the chassis department, a benefit enhanced by being based at the same factory, under the same roof. Having a pair of TF106s at our disposal for winter testing means that the development of our mechanical package will be significantly advanced.”

The new Toyota RVX-06 V8 engine was testbenched for the first time on 21 March 2005, one day after the team scored its debut podium finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Since its first track run at the end of July, the V8 has completed 291 laps over eight separate days, a distance of 2,143km.

“A lot of teething problems have been solved through our ability to get the V8 testing at an early stage,” adds Marmorini. “We have gathered a lot of data both on the track and in the factory. On 3 November we completed the required two race weekend mileage in the dyno for the first time and that has permitted us to start our winter testing programme with a fully “raceable” RVX-06 unit. Now our job is to redefine the limits of our engine and to push back the boundaries as much as we can before the new season.”

This week’s four-day Barcelona test will also mark Toyota’s debut with Bridgestone tyres following the recently announced contract for the 2006 season.

Toyota Motorsport President John Howett commented: “The Bridgestone agreement was only concluded recently and it is important to get the partnership working as quickly as possible, to build up a strong technical relationship and to develop the chassis and the Potenza tyres together in preparation for 2006. The fact that we can test the new mechanical package and suspension together with V8 engine and Bridgestone rubber will surely give us a valuable head start. It is too early to have any clear indication of our relative competitiveness, but development of the TF106 will be relentless to extract all the benefits of our continuous improvement maxim, to always stay ahead of the game.”

The TF106 is a natural evolution of its predecessor and an embodiment of Kaizen (continuous improvement), which forms an integral part of the global Toyota DNA.

“Over the years Toyota has developed its own way of working,” explains Toyota Motorsport Chairman Tsutomu Tomita. “The so-called Toyota Way and the Toyota Production Systems (TPS) manufacturing methodology act as the double helix of Toyota’s corporate DNA. It is this DNA that also runs through the veins of our Formula 1 team in Cologne. Only through our unique approach can we be optimistic of one day challenging for the world championship. We are still at a very early stage of development with the TF106 but having our new car ready with three full months before the first race of the season in Bahrain, I hope we are demonstrating our will to succeed in F1.”

In the driving seat for this week’s TF106 debut will be 2006 race drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, who finished 6th and 7th respectively in the drivers’ championship in 2005 and helped Panasonic Toyota Racing secure fourth in the constructors’ championship. Joining them will be Brazilian driver Ricardo Zonta, who has recently signed a one-year contract extension to be the team’s third and reserve driver for 2006. Frenchman Olivier Panis will also continue in an important test drive role in 2006, his fourth consecutive season as a Panasonic Toyota Racing driver.

“I am very pleased to have signed again with Panasonic Toyota Racing for the coming season,” said Zonta. “We enjoyed such a successful year in 2005 and I am sure this trend will continue. I feel part of the family at Toyota and I would rather continue to offer them my services as third driver than become race driver in another series which I may not enjoy as much as Formula 1. I feel that I have contributed significantly to Toyota’s success and I look forward to extensive testing of the TF106 to help propel us into the top flight of Formula 1.”

Panasonic Toyota Racing has three scheduled test sessions prior to the traditional winter break. Following this week’s four-day pounding of the Barcelona circuit, the team moves further south to the Circuito de Jerez from 7 December, where it will test for a total of eight days and use its full complement of drivers.

[evo]

[RedLiner]

Williams thread is that way ------------->

:D :D :D

[evo]

Williams thread is that way ------------->

:D  :D  :D

←

u said the livery was from the 1960's so i just posted that up :P

[RedLiner]

Nah your cool.....just that this Toyota thread was going to have more posts about williams rather than toyota.

[MR22ZZ]

Ralf managed to blow-up the first V8 of the testing season today...

the best part was Juan Montoya (Ralfs ex team mate at Williams) spun off on the spilled oil... :D

looks like Toyota have found the engines limit though... now to improve...

[evo]

then Montoya accidentally hits an open drain cover while playing tennis... ermm... :/

Edited December 5, 2005 by evo

[evo]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34696

cosworth breaks 20,000rpm

[Buddha]

Nah your cool.....just that this Toyota thread was going to have more posts about williams rather than toyota.

That's fair enough, but we also need to be aware that many people on these forums are also supporters of Aussie Mark Webber, so a little bit of Webber-ish Williams news should be permitted! :D

[RedLiner]

Toyota looking to sign Kimi Raikonnen for 2007 :)

[MR22ZZ]

don't get too excited, so are Ferrari, McLaren and Honda... now McLaren have secured Alonso for 2007

[evo]

Backyard Bob Racing Trucks signs Raikkonen for the 08 state championship.

[Buddha]

Backyard Bob Racing Trucks signs Raikkonen for the 08 state championship.

Nah, that can't be right ... if Kimi goes to Toyota in 2007, then he'd be on a multi-year contract surely?Unless Toyota leases him to Backyard Bob for a sizeable fee ... B)

Edited December 28, 2005 by Buddha

[evo]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the Tasmanian Truck Racing State Championship was sponsored by Toyota (Hino).

Who really knows what goes on behind closed doors? Depending on results, he could travel back to Finland to compete in the All Finland Truck Ice Racing Championship. An even bigger milestone.

Only Bob can make things happen.

[RedLiner]

Toyota has denied reports that it offered Kimi Raikkonen a contract to switch to the Cologne team in 2007.

"There is absolutely no truth in the rumour," team President John Howett told Autosport magazine

[perthcamry]

BERLIN, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Michael Schumacher's manager hinted in a German newspaper interview on Tuesday that the former world champion could move to big-spending Toyota after Ferrari.

After Schumacher complained about Ferrari's lack of competitiveness last year in a separate interview with Der Spiegel magazine, Willi Weber reminded Bild of Toyota's 'Nothing is impossible' advertising slogan.

"There have always been surprises in Formula One," Weber said, when asked about Schumacher's comment that there was a one percent chance he would move to a new team after his Ferrari contract expires at the end of 2006.

"And even if McLaren has (Fernando) Alonso in 2007, there are still big players in the market."

Schumacher, 37, has won seven world championships but managed just one victory in 2005 and finished a distant third behind Renault's Alonso and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

Spaniard Alonso has signed to race for McLaren in 2007 while Raikkonen is seen as a likely replacement for Schumacher should the German leave Ferrari.

Schumacher said he would not want to extend his career beyond 2006 if he is not able to win races again. He also said Ferrari needed more staff to get back on top. Bild estimated Toyota's annual F1 budget at 400 million euros.

"How does that Toyota slogan go again?" Weber said, referring to the adverts in Germany. "Let's wait and see how the season starts. There's enough time before the summer. Before that there won't be any decision."

Toyota are based near Schumacher's home town of Cologne and already have his younger brother Ralf as one of their two drivers.

Weber was Ralf's manager when he steered him from Williams to Toyota for a three-year deal worth 15 million euros per year but the two have since parted.

"That was my greatest triumph," said Weber, who has previously said he would not want both Schumachers driving on the same team as long as he was their manager because one would always be the loser.

"That's no longer my problem," Weber said. "What was true in the past isn't always true today."

[MR22ZZ]

don't ever believe anything you read that is quoted from 'Bild'