MEDIA INFORMATION 2009 Contents
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MEDIA INFORMATION 2009 Contents TF109 – THE MAKING OF Introducing the TF109 .................................................. 3 Technical Specifications .................................................. 6 How to Build an F1 Car .................................................. 8 Q+A with Tadashi Yamashina .................................................. 11 Q+A with John Howett .................................................. 14 Q+A with Pascal Vasselon .................................................. 17 Q+A with Yoshiaki Kinoshita .................................................. 20 TF109 - THE CAST Q+A with Jarno Trulli .................................................. 24 Jarno Trulli Profile .................................................. 27 Q+A with Timo Glock .................................................. 30 Timo Glock Profile .................................................. 33 Q+A with Kamui Kobayashi .................................................. 36 Kamui Kobayashi Profile .................................................. 38 TF109 – BACKGROUND A Beginners’ Guide .................................................. 42 New Regulations – Chassis .................................................. 44 New Regulations - Engine .................................................. 47 World Tour 2009 .................................................. 49 TF109 - CREDITS Home Sweet Home .................................................. 52 Doing Things the Toyota Way .................................................. 55 Panasonic Toyota Racing in Formula 1 .................................................. 58 Team Structure .................................................. 61 About Toyota Motor Corporation .................................................. 64 The Power of Partnership .................................................. 68 Welcome to Toyota F1 World .................................................. 79 Contact the PR Team .................................................. 80 MEDIA INFORMATION 2009 - Contents PRESENTS TF109 THE MAKING OF 2 INTRODUCING THE TF109 The highly-anticipated TF109; the latest cutting-edge production from Panasonic Toyota Racing; created a buzz when its world premiere hit the internet on 15 January. TF109 – or Toyota Formula 1 2009 to give it its full name – is hot property. The first images revealed a stunning production which combines the latest technology with a very human passion to succeed. This potent combination has been working on TF109 since October 2007. In a departure from recent Panasonic Toyota Racing productions, TF109 takes on a new shape, dictated by the FIA, with wider front wings, narrower rear wings and fewer additional aerodynamic devices the fashion for 2009. The script may be different but Panasonic Toyota Racing has set its usual high targets for TF109. Chairman and Team Principal Tadashi Yamashina states: “Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula 1.” TF109 is the sequel to the successful TF108, which once again established Panasonic Toyota Racing as a major player. TF108’s roll of honour included two podiums, one front row start and, with 56, more points than in 2006 (35pts) and 2007 (13pts) combined. A Toyota was in the top 10 on the starting grid for 14 of the 18 Grands Prix, finishing in the points 12 times, with nine top-six finishes. President John Howett says: “After eight years in Formula 1 we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for.” MEDIA INFORMATION 2009 3 TF109 – THE MAKING OF Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were the critically-acclaimed co-stars of TF108 and their on-track chemistry will reach new heights in TF109, once again supported by Kamui Kobayashi playing ‘Third Driver’. Tadashi Yamashina comments: “In my opinion Toyota has one of the best driver line-ups in Formula 1 and I am excited to see what they can do with the TF109. Both drivers proved last season that if we give them a competitive car they are capable of fighting with the best in the world, so our challenge this year is to deliver a car which will allow them to do this more often.” For Jarno, this is his fifth full year starring with Panasonic Toyota Racing. He brings maturity and heartfelt passion to his role while co-star Timo (title winner for GP2 Series in 2007) builds on the natural talent he showed in TF108, the first leading role of his career, to give a polished performance which is the perfect compliment. Jarno, 34, says: “I have now spent longer racing for Toyota in Formula 1 than any other driver and I have seen the huge progress that has been made since I joined in 2004. It has been a long journey and we have had ups and downs but we have never given up or lost faith.” Timo is a relative newcomer to the role of Formula 1 leading actor, with just 22 Grands Prix on his resumé, but his adaptability and quick thinking make him the perfect candidate to tackle TF109’s technical challenge. Timo, 26, says: “If you look back at the cars I have been racing for the last five years they have all been quite different, with the 2004 Jordan, then Champ Car, GP2 and the Toyota TF108, and I have been competitive in each of them. That shows how quickly I can adapt to a different car so I don’t have any concerns at all about adjusting to the 2009-style Formula 1 cars.” 4 Behind the scenes, those technical challenges required a painstaking approach from the production team. Action is the buzz word for this season so downforce is reduced and the potential for on-track cliff-hangers is the talk of the paddock. The most striking differences are changes to the front and rear wings. At 1800mm, front wings are wider and 75mm lower while rear wings are 75% narrower at 750mm. Senior General Manager Chassis Pascal Vasselon says: “This complete programme has been more demanding on our company than any previous new car project I have been involved in.” An old favourite makes a comeback for 2009 with Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres ending a 12-year sabbatical to do their bit to spice up the show, bringing mechanical, rather than aerodynamic, sticking power. As well as the subtle contribution of aerodynamics and star power of slick tyres, production of TF109 also focused on the commanding performance of Formula 1 engines, which must now work 50% harder. That means at least three Grands Prix, while Jarno and Timo have only eight engines each to co-star with from Australia to Abu Dhabi. The production is complete, the trailer is rolling and premiere tickets are selling fast; so take your seat - it’s almost time for the feature presentation. TF109 is coming soon to a track near you. MEDIA INFORMATION 2009 5 TF109 – THE MAKING OF TECHNICAL SPecifications Overall length 4636 mm Overall height 950mm Overall width 1800mm Overall weight 605kg inc driver and camera Monocoque Moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb construction. Fuel tank ATL safety cell Suspension Carbon fibre double wishbone arrangement, with carbon fibre trackrod and pushrod. Dampers Penske Wheels BBS forged magnesium Tyres Bridgestone Potenza Brakes Toyota/Brembo callipers, Brembo master cylinders, Hitco material (carbon/carbon) Steering Toyota power-assisted steering. Toyota carbon fibre steering wheel with Toyota / Magneti Marelli instruments Driver’s seat Carbon fibre Restraints Takata HANS device Hubbard-Downing Electronics Toyota, Magneti Marelli plus McLaren Electronic Systems ECU (as required by FIA rules) Transmission 7-speed unit plus reverse 6 RVX-09 TECHNICAL SPecifications Cylinders 8 Capacity 2,398cc Horsepower Approximately 740bhp Revolutions Maximum 18,000rpm (as required by FIA rules) Valve actuation Pneumatic Throttle actuation Hydraulic Spark Plugs DENSO Fuel Esso Lubricants Esso MEDIA INFORMATION 2009 7 TF109 – THE MAKING OF HOW TO BUILD AN F1 CAR When the TF109 hits the track for the first time in pre-season testing it will represent the end of a remarkable journey from a blank sheet of paper to one of the most sophisticated racing machines on the planet. The birth of the TF109 began in October 2007, when the 2009 Formula 1 regulations were confirmed by the FIA. Those regulations marked a significant change, so Panasonic Toyota Racing wasted no time in getting to work on the TF109 – before the TF108 had even been built. Senior General Manager Chassis Pascal Vasselon explains: “When you have a big regulation change as with this year, then there is little to learn from the previous car because the next one will be very different. The simulation work, to estimate all the consequences of the regulation change, has to start as soon as you know about the new rules.” The first task is relatively straightforward - establish exactly what the new regulations allow - then engineers study the implications of the rules on various performance factors to build a picture of what is required from the new car. Pascal adds: “You initiate the concept of a new car by first questioning the car concept in terms of tyre usage and aerodynamic potential. You enter the other phases of car design as soon as you are clear about what you want to achieve in these two main performance domains. That’s what allows you to set design targets for the suspension lay-out, then the gearbox lay-out, then the monocoque.”