Toleman
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| Full name | Toleman Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Base | Witney, Oxfordshire, UK |
| Team principal | Ted Toleman |
| Managing Director | Alex Hawkridge |
| Formula One Debut | 1981 San Marino Grand Prix |
| Final Race | 1985 Australian Grand Prix |
| Race starts | 57 |
| Constructors' Championships | none (7th in 1984) |
| Drivers' Championships | none |
| Race victories | 0 |
| Podium finishes | 3 |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
Toleman Motosport was a Formula One constructor based in the U.K. It was active between 1981 and 1985 and attended 131 Grands Prix.
Contents |
[edit] Origins
In the 1970s, businessman and motorsport fan Ted Toleman began his involvement in various racing formulae in the U.K. In 1977, he entered an eponymous team in British Formula Ford 2000. By 1978, he was running a March chassis for Rad Dougall in British Formula Two. During that year, Toleman hired former Royale designer Rory Byrne but continued to use customer chassis in 1979, purchasing a pair of Ralts and engines from Brian Hart. Rad Dougall was joined by Brian Henton in the expanded two-car entry. Henton finished second in that year's championship standings.1
[edit] Formula One
Toleman's entry to Formula One was announced in November 1980. Discussions took place with Lancia over the supply of a turbocharged engine, but the team decided to use a turbocharged version of the Hart F2 engine. By that time, Formula One was beginning to be dominated by turbo-powered cars, leaving the naturally aspirated engines lagging behind.
The Rory Byrne-designed TG181 was an overweight and underpowered car. Brian Henton and Derek Warwick failed to qualify until Henton made the cut for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September. Warwick also qualified only once; at the season-closing Las vegas Grand Prix. In 1982, upgraded TG181s were used by Warwick and newcomer Teo Fabi until the carbon-composite T183 was ready in August. The T183 was used in only two Grands Prix but did allow Warwick to record the first of Toleman's fastest laps in Dutch GP.
In 1983, the T183 showed improved form thanks to a major update. Derek Warwick was retained, while Teo Fabi was replaced by Bruno Giacomelli. The budget increased as Toleman's current sponsor - white goods manufacturer Candy - was joined by Magirus and BP. Warwick achieved Toleman's first points finish in the Dutch GP and scored again in the remaining three Grands Prix. These results placed Toleman 9th in the constructors' championship standings.
[edit] Ayrton Senna's debut
The driver line-up changed completely in 1984. Warwick's performances were rewarded with a Renault contract and his place was taken by Grand Prix debutant and future three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna, while Giacomelli's drive was taken by Venezuelan F2 driver Johnny Cecotto.
Senna quickly made an impression in Formula One and achieved Toleman's greatest result. In a rain-soaked Monaco GP, he finished in a close 2nd place behind Alain Prost. The torrential conditions forced the clerk of the course (Jacky Ickx) to stop the race after 31 of the scheduled 78 laps. It was a controversial decision that stirred up a conspiracy theory2 and resulted in much debate about whether Senna would have won. Certainly, he had the pace to do so - he was catching Prost and was within seven seconds of the leading car when the red flag was waved - but passing at Monaco is another matter entirely.
Before the season was over, Senna signed a contract with Lotus while still legally bound to Toleman. In response, Toleman suspended him for the Italian GP and his place was taken by Stefan Johansson. During practice for the British GP, Cecotto crashed heavily and broke both legs. Toleman opted to run only one entry for Senna at Hockenheim, the Österreichring and Zandvoort. The second car returned at Monza with Pierluigi Martini standing in for the injured Cecotto, but he failed to qualify. In Senna's car, Johansson qualified 17th fastest and finished in 4th place. When Senna returned after his "penalty", he and Johansson finished the season together.
[edit] Tyre supply problems
During the off-season, Toleman ran into difficulties over tyre supply and was only able to compete in 1985 after Spirit folded, allowing Toleman to take over its Pirelli tyre supply. The roots of this situation lay in Toleman's decision to abandon Pirelli after the 1984 San Marino GP in response to Michelin and Goodyear's performance advantage. Toleman had already aggrevated Goodyear with the same behaviour (that time in favour of Pirelli) in Formula Two, so Michelin was the only alternative. Michelin subsequently announced its withdrawal from F1 effective at the end of 1984, leaving Toleman with bridges to mend.3
As a result, it missed the first three Grands Prix and returned initially with only one entry. Johansson was to be retained and former Toleman driver Teo Fabi returned for a second stint, but the tyre supply issues prompted Johansson to drive for Tyrrell and then Ferrari. The sole remaining entry was taken by Fabi until an increased budget allowed a second car at the Österreichring for former Osella driver Piercarlo Ghinzani.
That year's T185 was the first carbon monocoque to be fabricated in-house at the Witney factory.4
[edit] Change of ownership
In May 1985, Toleman acquired major sponsorship from the Benetton clothing company, which had previously sponsored Tyrrell and Alfa Romeo. During the 1985/86 off-season, the knitwear firm purchased the team and it was renamed Benetton Formula prior to the 1986 season. It competed in this guise until it was eventually purchased by Renault and renamed Renault F1.
[edit] Complete Formula One Results
All chassis powered by versions of the Hart '415T' 1.5Ltr turbocharged 4-cylinder.
| Year | Chassis | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TG181 | USA | BRA | ARG | RSM | BEL | MON | ESP | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | USA | 0 | NC | ||
| B. Henton | - | - | - | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 10 | DNQ | DNQ | |||||
| D. Warwick | - | - | - | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | Ret | |||||
| 1982 | TG181C | RSA | BRA | USA | RSM | BEL | MON | USA | CAN | NED | GBR | FRA | GER | AUT | SWI | ITA | USA | 0 | NC | |
| D. Warwick | Ret | DNQ | DNQ | Ret | Ret | DNQ | - | - | Ret | Ret | 15 | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | ||||
| T. Fabi | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | NC | Ret | DNQ | - | - | DNQ | Ret | Ret | DNQ | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNQ | ||||
| 1983 | TG183 and TG183B | BRA | USA | FRA | RSM | MON | BEL | USA | CAN | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | EUR | RSA | 10 | 9th | ||
| D. Warwick | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | |||||
| B. Giacomelli | Ret | Ret | 13 | Ret | DNQ | 8 | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 13 | 7 | 6 | Ret | |||||
| 1984 | TG183B and TG184 | BRA | RSA | BEL | RSM | FRA | MON | CAN | USA | USA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | EUR | POR | 16 | 7th | |
| A. Senna | Ret | 6 | 6 | DNQ | Ret | 2 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 3 | Ret | Ret | Ret | - | Ret | 3 | ||||
| J. Cecotto | Ret | Ret | Ret | NC | Ret | Ret | 9 | Ret | Ret | DNQ | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| S. Johansson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | Ret | 11 | ||||
| P. Martini | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | DNQ | - | |||||
| 1985 | TG185 | BRA | POR | RSM | MON | CAN | USA | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | BEL | EUR | RSA | AUS | 0 | NC | |
| T. Fabi | - | - | - | Ret | Ret | Ret | 14 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | ||||
| P. Ghinzani | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | DNS | Ret | DNS | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret |
