Toyota TF110

Toyota's eight seasons in Formula One (2002–2009) In 1999, Japanese manufacturer Toyota, successful with seven drivers' and constructors' titles in the World Rally Championship and participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, announced its entry into the 2001 Formula One World Championship. The new team, Toyota Racing, was based in Cologne, where its rally and endurance programs were housed, in a facility equipped with a wind tunnel and infrastructure for developing engines, gearboxes, and spare parts. However, after planning to develop a V12 engine, the FIA's ban on this technology forced Toyota to delay its Formula One debut to the 2002 season. After a year of testing in 2001 with the prototype Toyota TF101, and with one of the largest budgets in the sport, Toyota entered the championship in 2002 with British rookie Allan McNish, an experienced test driver, and seasoned Finnish driver Mika Salo, who scored two points in the first three races. These early results led Toyota to aim for sixth place in the constructors' championship. However, the team, lacking Formula One experience, failed to develop the Toyota TF102 adequately and finished ninth, scoring no additional points. The day after the season’s final race at Abu Dhabi, Japanese media reported that Toyota’s board convened an extraordinary meeting in Tokyo on November 4, 2009, to end its Formula One participation, despite discussions with drivers Kimi Räikkönen, Robert Kubica, and Kamui Kobayashi to race the TF110. On that date, Toyota’s president, Akio Toyoda, confirmed the withdrawal, after briefly considering continuing until 2012. This marked the third manufacturer to exit in 12 months, following Honda and BMW Sauber. With car sales down 25% in the first half of 2009 and losses exceeding €5 billion, Toyota chose to focus on its core business while continuing to support young drivers in lower-tier competitions. Days later, rumors surfaced that Toyota was looking to sell the TF110’s plans and intellectual property, which had been in development for months and was now complete. Potential buyers included USF1 and Manor Motorsport, both eager to join the 2010 Formula One World Championship. An unnamed team’s purchase offer was rejected, and Toyota denied any plans to sell the car. == Car design ==

Technical aspects The TF110 was designed under the leadership of French engineer Pascal Vasselon, then technical director of Toyota Racing, who described it as an extreme car. Weighing with the driver and of ballast, measuring in length and in width, it features a monocoque chassis molded from carbon fiber. Its wheelbase is , longer than its predecessor, the Toyota TF109, to comply with new technical regulations banning in-race refueling and to prevent excessive tire wear, a key flaw of the TF109. Two TF110 chassis were built. The car is powered by a Toyota RVX-09 V8 engine with a displacement of , or . Power is transmitted via a titanium longitudinal semi-automatic sequential gearbox with seven speeds, designed in-house. Due to the ban on in-race refueling and the larger fuel tank, the gearbox cooling duct was placed above the gearbox, similar to the Red Bull RB6. The suspension system follows a conventional design with double wishbones molded in carbon fiber, featuring push-rods and a rocker with a torsion bar. The innovation lies in the use of a Cambridge inerter, tested on the TF109 late in the 2009 season, along with the rear suspension wishbones. Toyota also raised the lower suspension wishbones and reduced the gap between them, improving the elasto-kinematics of the axles while making the suspension less rigid. The dampers were supplied by Öhlins. Regarding the TF110’s aerodynamic performance, Pascal Vasselon said: "When we stopped development, we had 20 to 30 additional downforce points. We exceeded our targets by far. Even the TF109 was good enough for podiums. Several of our aerodynamicists joined top teams, and we know our downforce data was very high." He added that Toyota planned to introduce a blown diffuser for the first Grand Prix of 2010, claiming Toyota and Red Bull Racing would have been the first to use this technology. Shakedown In May 2010, Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima conducted a shakedown of the TF110, painted red in the colors of Stefan GP, in the parking lot of Toyota Motorsport’s Cologne factory, in the presence of British and Japanese motorsport journalists. == Attempts to acquire the car by other teams ==

Stefan Grand Prix (pictured in 2009), supported by Toyota, was set to drive the TF110 for the Serbian Stefan GP team. Toyota’s withdrawal left a vacant 13th grid slot for the 2010 season, ultimately awarded to Sauber. However, the potential withdrawal of new teams like Campos Racing, Manor Motorsport, USF1, and Lotus Racing gave hope to the Serbian Stefan GP, which sought to join the championship despite not being selected in the FIA’s July 2009 tender. In December 2009, Serbian businessman Zoran Stefanovic, founder of Stefan GP, announced an agreement with Toyota to take over its Formula One program after meeting John Howett, head of Toyota Motorsport, in Cologne. Stefanovic claimed to have facilities in Serbia and Germany to support the project and planned to conduct tests throughout 2010 for a potential 2011 entry. Stefan GP also hired British engineer Mike Coughlan as technical director. In late December 2009, the Stefan S-01, based on or identical to the Toyota TF110, passed the FIA’s mandatory crash tests, though the rear needed to be lightened. On January 29, 2010, Stefan GP signed a partnership with Toyota, including technological support, use of the Cologne factory, the TF110, its engine (rebadged as Stefan RG-01), and gearbox. The deal also included Kazuki Nakajima, with Toyota covering his salary. In early February, Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights holder of Formula One, supported Stefan GP’s entry, expressing doubts about USF1 and Campos Racing’s participation. Despite not being officially entered, Stefanovic sent equipment to Bahrain and Malaysia, the first two races of the season. The team also held discussions with drivers such as Sébastien Loeb, Narain Karthikeyan, Ralf Schumacher (backed by Ecclestone), Takuma Sato, Christian Klien, Karun Chandhok, Bertrand Baguette, Adrián Vallés, and Alex Margaritis for the second seat. The most serious candidates were Jacques Villeneuve, who had a seat fitting in Cologne, and Pastor Maldonado, considered for a test and reserve role. (pictured in 2010) was the most likely candidate to drive the second Stefan S-01. On February 19, 2010, at 8:00 AM, the Stefan S-01 was started in Cologne. Stefanovic stated, "the car works perfectly, there were no issues, and we could race or test on a track, but we’re just waiting for the tires." However, Bridgestone, the official Formula One tire supplier, only provided tires to registered teams, forcing Stefan GP to use GP2 Series tires. The S-01, painted entirely red in Serbia’s colors, was scheduled for four days of testing from February 25 to 28 at the Portimão circuit in Portugal. However, three days prior, Stefan GP canceled the test due to the lack of Formula One-spec tires and safety concerns with using GP2 tires. In late February, Stefanovic revealed negotiations for a merger with USF1, which had requested to delay its entry until the 2010 Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth race, but these talks failed. On March 3, the FIA released the official 2010 Formula One entry list: USF1 withdrew due to insufficient funds, and Stefan GP was not selected, as a new tender was required for a replacement team. Shortly after, Stefanovic announced the termination of the Toyota partnership, which was contingent on Stefan GP’s championship participation. Toyota also expressed doubts about the project’s viability: despite Stefan GP’s 60 employees and the 180 staff at Toyota’s Cologne factory, the team was linked to AMCO, a Stefanovic-owned company specializing in aerospace and military technology with a capital of only €500. Stefanovic claimed AMCO supplied drones to the Bundeswehr and collaborated with the European Space Agency on the Ariane 5 launcher, but both entities denied these claims. Durango and Villeneuve Racing In April 2010, the Italian team Durango Automotive, despite withdrawing from the 2010 GP2 Series due to financial issues, responded to the FIA’s tender for a 13th Formula One team for 2011, planning to purchase the Toyota TF110 chassis. In July, Durango partnered with Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, forming Villeneuve Racing, with Villeneuve as both driver and team leader. In September 2010, the FIA announced that no candidate met its requirements for joining the championship. Pirelli In June 2010, Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli, selected as the sole Formula One tire supplier for 2011, sought a test and development car. After considering a former BMW Sauber or the Toyota TF110, Pirelli purchased a Toyota TF109, prepared by Toyota Motorsport. To ensure no team gained an advantage, the TF109 was driven by Nick Heidfeld, released from his test driver role at Mercedes. Hispania Racing F1 Team In May 2010, the Spanish team Hispania Racing F1 Team, dissatisfied with its F110 designed by Dallara, ended its partnership with the company. Hispania considered acquiring the TF110’s plans to serve as a basis for a new Cosworth-powered car for 2011. Technical director Geoff Willis and team owner José Ramón Carabante, advised by team principal Colin Kolles, visited Toyota’s Cologne factory twice, eyeing its offices, wind tunnel, machinery, and assembly facilities. However, the deal did not materialize. . In mid-November 2010, Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported that Hispania was close to finalizing a deal with Toyota Motorsport, including the TF110’s intellectual property, two wind tunnels, and 100 Cologne factory employees. Days later, Toyota unexpectedly terminated negotiations, citing Hispania’s failure to meet contractual obligations, retaining ownership of the TF110. José Ramón Carabante believed a TF110 adapted to 2011 regulations could have placed his drivers in the top eight, but this failed to convince potential Spanish sponsors. == Fate of the cars ==

Two Toyota TF110 chassis were built. The TF110-01, painted red in Stefan GP colors, was used for a demonstration by Kazuki Nakajima in the Toyota Motorsport Cologne factory parking lot in May 2010. John Howett, the team’s president, damaged it by hitting a wall during a farewell drive. The second chassis, TF110-02, unpainted, is displayed at the Automuseum Prototyp in Hamburg. ==References==