Toyota TF102
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Toyota F1 | ||||||||
| Designer(s) |  Gustav Brunner |
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| Technical Specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Push rod with Torsion bar | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Push rod with Torsion bar | ||||||||
| Engine | Toyota RVX-02 | ||||||||
| Transmission | Six Gear, Semi-Automatic | ||||||||
| Fuel | Esso | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition History | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Panasonic Toyota Racing | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Mika Salo Allan McNish |
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| Debut | 2002 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| 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 Gustav Brunner and Dago Rohrer. As with the TF101, it was piloted during the season by Mika Salo and Allan McNish.
[edit] Development
The car had a much more conventional look in the aerodynamic sense than the test car, and this 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
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