0
THE MAKING OF TF109
TF109 – or Toyota Formula 1 2009 to give it its full name – is hot property. The first images revealed a stunning production which combines the latest technology with a very human passion to succeed. This potent combination has been working on TF109 since October 2007.
In a departure from recent Panasonic Toyota Racing productions, TF109 takes on a new shape, dictated by the FIA, with wider front wings, narrower rear wings and fewer additional aerodynamic devices the fashion for 2009.
The script may be different but Panasonic Toyota Racing has set its usual high targets for TF109. Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina states: "Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1."
TF109 is the sequel to the successful TF108, which once again established Panasonic Toyota Racing as a major player. TF108's roll of honour included two podiums, one front row start and, with 56, more points than in 2006 (35pts) and 2007 (13pts) combined. A Toyota was in the top 10 on the starting grid for 14 of the 18 Grands Prix, finishing in the points 12 times, with nine top-six finishes.
President John Howett says: "After eight years in Formula 1 we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for."
Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were the critically-acclaimed co-stars of TF108 and their on-track chemistry will reach new heights in TF109, once again supported by Kamui Kobayashi playing 'Third Driver'.
Tadashi Yamashina comments: "In my opinion Toyota has one of the best driver line-ups in Formula 1 and I am excited to see what they can do with the TF109. Both drivers proved last season that if we give them a competitive car they are capable of fighting with the best in the world, so our challenge this year is to deliver a car which will allow them to do this more often."
For Jarno, this is his fifth full year starring with Panasonic Toyota Racing. He brings maturity and heartfelt passion to his role while co-star Timo (title winner for GP2 Series in 2007) builds on the natural talent he showed in TF108, the first leading role of his career, to give a polished performance which is the perfect compliment.
Jarno, 34, says: "I have now spent longer racing for Toyota in Formula 1 than any other driver and I have seen the huge progress that has been made since I joined in 2004. It has been a long journey and we have had ups and downs but we have never given up or lost faith."
Timo is a relative newcomer to the role of Formula 1 leading actor, with just 22 Grands Prix on his resume, but his adaptability and quick thinking make him the perfect candidate to tackle TF109's technical challenge.
Timo, 26, says: "If you look back at the cars I have been racing for the last five years they have all been quite different, with the 2004 Jordan, then Champ Car, GP2 and the Toyota TF108, and I have been competitive in each of them. That shows how quickly I can adapt to a different car so I don't have any concerns at all about adjusting to the 2009-style Formula 1 cars."
Behind the scenes, those technical challenges required a painstaking approach from the production team. Action is the buzz word for this season so downforce is reduced and the potential for on-track cliff-hangers is the talk of the paddock. The most striking differences are changes to the front and rear wings. At 1800mm, front wings are wider and 75mm lower while rear wings are 75% narrower at 750mm.
Senior General Manager Chassis Pascal Vasselon says: "This complete programme has been more demanding on our company than any previous new car project I have been involved in."
An old favourite makes a comeback for 2009 with Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres ending a 12-year sabbatical to do their bit to spice up the show, bringing mechanical, rather than aerodynamic, sticking power.
As well as the subtle contribution of aerodynamics and star power of slick tyres, production of TF109 also focused on the commanding performance of Formula 1 engines, which must now work 50% harder. That means at least three Grands Prix, while Jarno and Timo have only eight engines each to co-star with from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
Toyota adopted a modern and unique method to launch their new car today: the Internet-only unveiling allowed the whole world to see the car at the same time, but as yet no one has seen it for real or up close.
As we have only seen the team's images of the TF109, we have also only seen it from the angles they want us to see. From the limited view of the TF109 we can already draw some comments on the details.
Toyota have taken a shapely approach to their new car: although clearly in its first iteration of bodywork to meet the new rules, the car sports some interesting touches to maximise downforce and reduce drag. The car's chassis design was headed again by Pascal Vasselon, while this is the end of the first full new machine for head of aerodynamics Mark Gillan.
Both engineers have aimed for stability as the key characteristic of the TF109, both mechanically and aerodynamically.
Unlike the interim cars tested before Christmas, Toyota have gone for a slim nose but, unlike Ferrari, they have kept the nose shorter and raised the tip up as far as possible. This shape does provide more space under the nose cone for turning vanes, which is an area outside of the exclusion zones for bodywork. Thus Toyota have fitted a pair of vanes to the rear of the nose cone that lead back under the chassis.
Toyota TF109 detailThe front wing is split abruptly between the FIA-mandated middle section and the downforce-producing outer spans, which feature single element moving flaps.
Most noticeable are the shapely endplates without curved leading edges to tease airflow around the front wheels; these are most noticeable when viewed from above.
Curiously, the front wheel fairings have their openings pointing forwards rather than backwards as with their 2008 car, while the rear wheels are fitted with Toyota's novel vaned fairings.
Leading back. the team have fitted another pair of small bargeboards in front of the sidepod and a simple tall pod wing to its shoulder.
As one of the last teams to adopt undercut sidepods, the new sidepod fronts are exceptionally undercut. They then sweep into a tight coke bottle shape before exiting in a bulbous shape over the gearbox. The only cooling outlets allowed in the engine cover also need to route the exhaust pipes; Toyota have chosen to sink the pipes beneath the engine cover rather than expose them as per the Ferrari.
Also on the engine cover is a small tail spine that smoothes the flow to the new, narrower, rear wing to make more use of the lower beam wing. Toyota have lowered the rear crash structure to reach underneath it, leaving the full span of the beam wing exposed to the airflow.
Although the team have yet to release pictures of the rear of the car, it appears they have made some use of the allowable space behind the main diffuser to create a narrow extension to the middle of the diffuser.
Toyota TF109 detailNo mechanical details of the car have been released, although it was announced the car is having a battery storage KERS system developed for it, although this will not be ready for the season's start.
One significant development has been the departure of Luca Marmorini, the technical director for engine development. Marmorini has been with the team since their F1 Debut and has been responsible for the team having some of the best and most reliable engines on the grid.
But Marmorini has also been vocal about the lack of engine development opportunities, as the formula heads into its third year with a development freeze. No reason for his departure has been given.
This year the engines are reduced in revs (18,000rpm from 19,000) and each driver will need to use no more than eight engines throughout the season.
The TF109 will take to the track publicly for the first time next week at the Portimao test.
