Toyota TF102

Racing car
Car_name = Toyota TF102


Category = Formula One
Constructor = Toyota F1
Designer = flagicon|Austria Gustav Brunner
Team = Panasonic Toyota Racing
Drivers = flagicon|Finland Mika Salo
flagicon|Great Britain Allan McNish
Chassis = carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Front suspension = Push rod with Torsion bar
Rear suspension = Push rod with Torsion bar
Engine name = Toyota RVX-02
Capacity =
Configuration =
Turbo/NA =
Engine position =
Gearbox name =
Gears = Six Gear,
Type = Semi-Automatic
Differential =
Fuel = Esso
Tyres = Michelin
Debut = 2002 Australian Grand Prix
Races = "17"
Wins = "0"
Cons_champ = "0"
Drivers_champ = "0"
Poles = "0"
Fastest_laps = "0"
The Toyota TF102 was the car with which the Toyota team competed in the 2002 Formula One season, the team's inaugural Championship campaign. The car reflected the results of a year's testing in 2001 with the TF101, and was designed primarily by Gustav Brunner and Dago Rohrer. As with the TF101, it was piloted during the season by Mika Salo and Allan McNish.

Development

The car had a much more conventional look in the aerodynamic sense than the test car did, something that was was commented on by Brunner at its launch in November 2001; "The car tested during 2001 showed the results we wanted. This new model reflects the latest technology, and has a much more conventional setup than the test car."

The car sported a different paint livery than the one seen on the test car; with a more abstract red and white design taking over from the contoured lines of the previous model.

Performance

The car was used to accumulate only two points during the 2002 season for ninth place in the constructors standings. Firstly with a sixth place in its debut race in Australia and secondly at the third Grand Prix in Brazil, with another sixth place, both times for Mika Salo.

Team principal Ove Andersson had warned at the beginning of the season that it would be very much a "learning year" and overall the car's performance was received with optimism due to its sturdy reliability.

At the Japanese Grand Prix Allan McNish wrote off a TF102 chassis completely during the qualifying session. McNish was rounding the super quick, and very dangerous 130r corner at the end of the lap, when the car got loose and catapulted backwards towards the armco barrier.

The car tore a hole in the barrier, and was completely destroyed. McNish sustained no serious injury, and this pays testament to the strength of the TF102 chassis.

Complete Formula One results

() (results in bold indicate pole position)

External links

* [http://www.toyota-f1.com/public/en/motorsports/evolution/tf102.html TF102 Evolution at Toyota F1 official site]
* [http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Toyota_TF102 TF102 Facts at f1db.com]