Toyota TF102

Toyota TF102
Allan McNish's TF102 on display at the 2010 Toyota Motorsport Festival
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorToyota
Designer(s)
PredecessorTF101 (never raced)
SuccessorTF103
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Push rod with torsion bar
Suspension (rear)As front
Length4,547 mm (179 in)[1]
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height959 mm (38 in)
Axle trackFront: 1,424 mm (56 in)
Rear: 1,411 mm (56 in)
Wheelbase3,120 mm (123 in)
EngineToyota RVX-02 2,998 cc (183 cu in) 72-degree V10 naturally-aspirated mid-engined
TransmissionToyota-designed maincase with Toyota/Xtrac internals 6-speed + 1 reverse semi-automatic limited slip differential
BatteryPanasonic lead-acid 12 volts
Power625 kilowatts (835 hp) at 18,200 rpm[2]
Weight600 kg (1,323 lb) including driver, fuel and other components
FuelEsso
LubricantsEsso
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsPanasonic Toyota Racing
Notable drivers
Debut2002 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2002 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
17000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

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 Dago Rohrer, Gustav Brunner and René Hilhorst. The engine was designed by Luca Marmorini. As with the TF101, it was piloted during the season by Mika Salo and Allan McNish.

Development

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Driver Allan McNish in a TF102 at the 2002 French Grand Prix.

The car had a much more conventional look in the aerodynamic sense than the test car did, something that 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."[3]

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

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At the opening race of the 2002 season in Melbourne, Salo came home sixth to give the team a point on its Formula One début. The Finn added a second point two races later, in Brazil.[4]

McNish, meanwhile, was on course for a point of his own in Malaysia, but a pit-lane mistake by the team meant he finished seventh.[5] During qualifying for the final race of the season, at Suzuka, he wrote off a chassis completely when he crashed at the super-quick 130R corner, also tearing a hole in the Armco barrier. However, he sustained no serious injury, which paid testament to the safety of the TF102.[6]

The two points put Toyota tenth in the Constructors' Championship, behind Minardi on count-back (Mark Webber had finished fifth in Australia) but ahead of the financially troubled Arrows.[7]

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.[8]

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Chassis/Engine
Tyres
Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
2002 TF102
Toyota V10
M
AUS MAL BRA SMR ESP AUT MON CAN EUR GBR FRA GER HUN BEL ITA USA JPN 2 10th
Finland Mika Salo 6 12 6 Ret 9 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 15 7 11 14 8
United Kingdom Allan McNish Ret 7 Ret Ret 8 9 Ret Ret 14 Ret 11 Ret 14 9 Ret 15 DNS

References

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  1. ^ "Panasonic Toyota F1 Spearheads Motor Sport Challenge" (PDF) (Press release). UK: Toyota. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Toyota". Stats F1. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. ^ "TF102". Toyota Gazoo Racing. 17 December 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. ^ Elizalde, Pablo. "The 2002 Australian GP Review". Atlas F1. Spain. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via Autosport.
  5. ^ Elizalde, Pablo. "The 2002 Malaysian GP Review". Atlas F1. Spain. Retrieved 9 June 2023 – via Autosport.
  6. ^ "McNish escapes shunt with bruising". Crash.net. 12 October 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. ^ "2002 Constuctor Standings". Formula 1. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Toyota Racing unveils 2002 Formula One TF102". Motorsport.com. 19 October 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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