Toyota TF102

Toyota TF102
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Toyota
Designer(s)	Dago Rohrer (Technical Director); Gustav Brunner (Chief Designer); René Hilhorst (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	TF101 (never raced)
Successor	TF103
Technical specifications
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Push rod with Torsion bar
Suspension (rear)	Push rod with Torsion bar
Length	4,620 mm (181.9 in)
Axle track	3,120 mm (122.8 in)
Wheelbase	1,450 mm (57.1 in)
Engine	Toyota RVX-02 3.0-litre 72-degree V10 naturally-aspirated mid-engined
Transmission	6-speed, semi-automatic, limited slip differential
Power	835 hp @ 18,200 rpm
Weight	600 kg (1,322.8 lb)
Fuel	Esso
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	Panasonic Toyota Racing
Notable drivers	24. Mika Salo; 25. Allan McNish
Debut	2002 Australian Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	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 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[]

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."

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[]

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Complete Formula One results[]

(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
		Mika Salo	6	12	6	Ret	9	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	15	7	11	14	8
		Allan McNish	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	8	9	Ret	Ret	14	Ret	11^†	Ret	14	9	Ret	15	DNS

References[]

^ "Panasonic Toyota F1 Spearheads Motor Sport Challenge" (PDF) (Press release). UK: Toyota. 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
^ statsf1.com/en/moteur-toyota.aspx

External links[]

[1] "Panasonic Toyota F1 Spearheads Motor Sport Challenge" (PDF) (Press release). UK: Toyota. 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2013-09-28.

[2] statsf1.com/en/moteur-toyota.aspx

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