Toyota F1

Toyota F1 is a Formula One team run by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. Unusually, whereas most Formula One teams are based in the United Kingdom, Toyota opted to set up in Cologne, Germany. Toyota's investment in Formula 1 is long term, with large investment into the team's headquarters in Cologne, Germany. Toyota's technical team currently includes reputable designers such as Mike Gascoyne, Gustav Brunner, and Luca Marmorini.

Related Topics:
Formula One - Japan - Toyota - United Kingdom - Cologne - Germany - Cologne, Germany - Mike Gascoyne - Gustav Brunner - Luca Marmorini

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Toyota's Formula One involvement stemmed from Toyota Team Europe, set up by Ove Andersson to run in the World Rally Championship and used by Toyota to run its 24 Hours of Le Mans campaigns in 1998 and 1999. Toyota redirected its resources from the World Rally Championship to Formula One and during 2000 and 2001 Toyota ran tens of thousands of miles of testing their Formula One test car, the TF101.

Related Topics:
Toyota Team Europe - Ove Andersson - World Rally Championship - 24 Hours of Le Mans - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Toyota officially began participation in the Formula One World Championship in 2002, with drivers Allan McNish and Mika Salo. Despite reportedly having one of the biggest budgets out of all the Formula One teams, Toyota scored only two points all year, level with minnows Minardi, and ahead of only one other team (Arrows, which ran out of money halfway through the season). Neither McNish nor Salo were offered jobs for 2003, although they did a reasonable job in the circumstances.

Related Topics:
Formula One - 2002 - Allan McNish - Mika Salo - Minardi - Arrows - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2003, Champ Car champion Cristiano da Matta and former BAR driver Olivier Panis took over the racing duties but success was still a long way away. The team accumulated sixteen points throughout the season ? a massive improvement on 2002 in terms of points ? but still ended up only eighth in the Constructors' Championship.

Related Topics:
2003 - Champ Car - Cristiano da Matta - BAR - Olivier Panis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 2004 Formula One season was more difficult for the team. Both Toyotas were disqualified from the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix for running illegal parts. Cristiano da Matta, disillusioned with Formula One, left the team half-way through the season, and was replaced by compatriot Ricardo Zonta who had been the team's third driver. Zonta was replaced by Jarno Trulli who had himself left Renault F1. Olivier Panis, meanwhile, announced his retirement from racing, and bowed out before the end of the season to allow Zonta to compete in his home race, the Brazilian Grand Prix. The team scored only nine points all season.

Related Topics:
2004 Formula One season - 2004 Canadian Grand Prix - Ricardo Zonta - Third driver - Jarno Trulli - Renault F1 - Brazilian Grand Prix

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There was, however, reason for the team to be optimistic. Toyota had signed proven race winners for the 2005 Formula One season: Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher. They had also employed talented designer Mike Gascoyne to oversee the development of the Toyota chassis. Toyota made a highly impressive start to the 2005 season. Trulli was able to show the car's pace by qualifying second for the Australian Grand Prix and finishing in second at the following two races. Results soon began to peter away as Toyota was unable to keep up with the pace of development. Nevertheless, the 2005 season has been Toyota's most successful Formula One season by far.

Related Topics:
2005 Formula One season - Jarno Trulli - Ralf Schumacher - Mike Gascoyne - 2005 - Australian Grand Prix

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~