Toyota TF108
 Jarno Trullidriving the TF108 at the2008 British Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Toyota | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) |
| ||||||||||
| Predecessor | TF107 | ||||||||||
| Successor | TF109 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb constructionmonocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Carbon-fibre double wishbone arrangement, with carbon-fibre track rod and pushrod | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Carbon-fibre double wishbone arrangement, with carbon-fibre track rod and pushrod | ||||||||||
| Engine | ToyotaRVX-082398 ccV819,000 RPM Limited naturally-aspiratedmid-engine | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Toyota/WilliamsF1/Xtraccollaboration 7-speed unit plus reverse | ||||||||||
| Power | 750 hp @ 19,000 rpm[1] | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Esso | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Esso | ||||||||||
| Brakes | Brembo callipers and master cylinders, Hitco material (carbon/carbon) | ||||||||||
| Tyres | BridgestonePotenza BBS forged magnesium | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | PanasonicToyota Racing | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 11. Jarno Trulli12.  Timo Glock | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2008 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
TheToyota TF108was aFormula Onecar designed and engineered byToyotato compete in the2008 Formula One season.The chassis was designed byPascal Vasselon,John LitjensandMark Gillanwith the engine being designed byLuca MarmoriniandNoritoshi Araioverseeing the entire project. The cars best finish was second in theHungarian Grand Prix,driven byTimo Glock.
Launch
[edit]
The 2008 Toyota challenger, the Toyota TF108, was launched on 10 January 2008, at the team's factory in Cologne, Germany.[2]
Jarno Trulliwas retained as one of the team's drivers for the 2008 season and was joined by formerJordandriverTimo Glock.The Toyota test and reserve driver for the 2008 season was Japanese driverKamui Kobayashi.[3]
The Toyota team let driverRalf Schumachergo at the end of the2007 Formula One season,Schumacher then signed a contract withMercedes-Benzin theDTMfor the2008 season.[4]
Technical developments
[edit]New concept design
[edit]The TF108 had a new longer wheelbase to aid stability and a totally new aero package that was hoped to give the car great potential. It was not an evolution of the previous year'sTF107;instead it had been designed from an evolution of theTF106,used for the 2006 season. Pascal Vasselon, the team's chassis general manager noted that the "primary aerodynamic design philosophy for the TF108 is geared towards optimising the entire package".[5]
Rule changes
[edit]The car also had the new for 2008 higher headrests around the drivers head and also had the new standardMcLaren Electronic SystemsECU that prevented the car having driver aids.
Changes in aerodynamics
[edit]Toyota had adopted a McLarenMP4-22-like bridge on the front wing,[6]and also moved the rear view mirrors outboard, like Ferrari and Renault.[7]The TF108 had also had a major focus on cleaning the air flow around the front suspension, maximising the zero keel concept of the front suspension.[8]
Alternative liveries
[edit]
- At the2008 French Grand Prixthe car ran with a black stripe along the nosecone, to commemorate the life of formerToyota F1boss,Ove Andersson,who had died earlier that month.
- At the2008 British Grand Prix,the car ran with a specialBatmanlivery. The team signed a deal withWarner Brothersto promote the new film,The Dark Knight,which was released on 25 July.[9]
2008 season
[edit]2008 testing
[edit]Timo Glock was fastest[10]in testing at Jerez on 17 January, whilst test driver Kamui Kobayashi was 7th fastest on the same day.
Toyota and Ferrari had been the only teams in 2008 to test outside the common test tracks in Spain (Valencia,Jerezand theCircuit de Catalunya), having chosen to test in sunnier conditions in Bahrain from the 4th to 6 February and 9th until 11 February 2008.[11]
Later in the month of February, Toyota, alongside Ferrari, returned to the Circuit de Catalunya to finish off their preparations for the season opener inMelbourne.Toyota rolled out a new aero package,[12]with Pascal Vasselon saying that "The new aerodynamics package we brought here is a clear step forward". The very next day, Jarno Trulli completed the day with a time of 1.20.801, fastest overall,Red Bull-RenaultdriverDavid Coulthardwas second with a time of 01:21.258 on the same day.[13]
Racing
[edit]The TF108 marked an improvement of form for Toyota. Trulli scored points in 10 of the 18 races, with a 3rd place in France the highlight of his season. Teammate Glock finished in the points at 6 races including 2nd in Hungary. With a total of 56 points, Toyota scored more points in 2008 then the last 2 seasons combined. Both Trulli and Glock were retained for 2009.
Complete Formula One results
[edit](key) (results inboldindicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Panasonic Toyota Racing | ToyotaV8 | B | AUS | MAL | BHR | ESP | TUR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | CHN | BRA | 56 | 5th | |
| Trulli | Ret | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 13 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 8 | ||||||
| Glock | Ret | Ret | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 12 | Ret | 2 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 4 | Ret | 7 | 6 |
References
[edit]- ^statsf1.com/en/moteur-toyota.aspx
- ^"Toyota reveals TF108 in Cologne".GPUpdate.net. 10 January 2008.Retrieved1 February2011.
- ^"Kobayashi expects to learn a lot".GPUpdate.net. 11 January 2008.Retrieved1 February2011.
- ^"Ralf Schumacher joins DTM series in 2008".GPUpdate.net. 18 February 2008.Retrieved1 February2011.
- ^"Longer wheelbase, new aero concept for latest Toyota".Formula1.com.
- ^"A brand new bridge wing for Toyota".f1technical.net.
- ^"TF108 follows trend to move mirrors outboard".f1technical.net.
- ^"Toyota focus on aerodynamics in suspension".f1technical.net.
- ^"Toyota brings Batman to Silversone".ITV-F1. 1 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 1 August 2008.
- ^"Jerez day three - Glock masters the TF108".Formula1.com.
- ^"Only Ferrari and Toyota will travel to Bahrain".GPUpdate.net. 22 January 2008.Retrieved1 February2011.
- ^"Toyota happy with new aero package".GPUpdate.net. 26 February 2008.Retrieved1 February2011.
- ^"Trulli fastest on final day of pre-season testing".f1technical.net.
External links
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