Toyota

Toyota has been around in motorsport since 1957 but their entry to Formula 1 is as recent as 2002. After partnering with various smaller teams in other motorsport disciplines, Toyota decided to enter F1 on their own without partnering any specialist constructor. Toyota also set-up their base in Germany unlike most other teams that seemed to prefer Britain.

Allan McNish and Mika Salo were their drivers for the debut season. Driving the TF102, built out of the biggest F1 budget, neither could make an impression and the team languished at the back, competing only with the Minardi and beating Arrows! Despite replacing both drivers for the 2003 season, Toyota could not do much better. They scored 16 points and finished more races, but their overall standing as constructor improved to only 8th.

Toyota retained da Matta and Panis but the results did not improve. There was a serious blot on the reputation during this season when both Toyotas were disqualified in Canada for running illegal parts.

By 2005, the team had matured and the line-up had changed again. Jarno Trulli, who had come aboard in 2004 retained his place, but his partner from 2004, Ricardo Zonta lost his seat to Ralf Schumacher. Toyota was also supplying engines to Jordan that year; a sign that things were coming together for them. 2005 was, by far, Toyota's most successful year and they finished all but two races that season. With 88 points, they finished 4th and were looking ahead with hope.

2006 came and went and Toyota did not make much headway. Too many retirements raised doubts about the car's reliability and as a result, they slipped from a 4th place in 2005 to 6th in 2006. Nonetheless, their development seemed on track and for 2007, they have unveiled a new car, the TF107. The drivers line-up remains unchanged with R.Schumacher and Trulli seeming comfortable with the team and setup.


Team Boss: Tsutomu Tomita

Races: 98

Race Wins: 0

Constructor's Championships: 0

Engine: Toyota V8 RVX-07

Chassis: TF107 - Toyota

Suspension: Penske/Toyota

Brakes: Brembo Carbon

Tyres: Bridgestone

Transmission: 7-speed unit + reverse

Other:
Engine power: Over 18,500 rpm
GearBox: 7-speed Toyota semi-automatic shift via driver-controlled electro-hydraulic actuation
Weight: 605 kgs (including driver, camera and ballast)
Dimensions: 4530 mm x 1800 mm x 950 mm
Valves: 4 valves per cylinder; pneumatic valve system
Total displacement: 2.4 litres


Team Personnel:
Team manager:
Designer:
Chief engineer: Luca Marmorini
Drivers: Jarno Trulli (Italy), Ralf Schumacher (Germany)
Test driver: Franck Montagny

The British Grand Prix Preview

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton firmly believes that he can win this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone - the first time he will ever race a Formula One car in front of his fellow countrymen.

That is despite Ferrari’s speed here in recent testing and sudden return to form in Magny-Cours - and in spite of all the scandal that has blown up following allegations that a senior McLaren engineer received stolen intellectual property from Ferrari and the ensuing suspension of that engineer.

Both of these factors will add to any pressure Hamilton feels racing at home, but he is convinced that he can join a long list of Britons who have won the British Grand Prix: Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, Peter Collins, Jim Clark, David Coulthard, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, John Watson, Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert.

“You can’t win every race, and the most important thing is to be consistent, which I think we are,” he said after finishing third at Magny-Cours. “Both the Ferrari drivers said they made a good step forward, but when you are behind people, as we were in Magny-Cours, it’s a lot harder to show your true pace. I don’t think they were as quick, as much faster than us, as it looked today. Traffic and strategy had a lot to do with that, so I still think we can bounce back at Silverstone, without a doubt.

“I don’t think Ferrari’s sudden speed is worrying. It just shows they’ve made a great step forward and had a slightly better strategy than us. We were always on a three-stop strategy but what happened at the start affected that. After I had made my third pit stop I was a long way behind Felipe so there was no point in me wrenching the neck out of the engine trying to catch him. Throughout the race we were quite consistent on speed, but we need a little more. I am sure that we will make another improvement before Silverstone.

“To be honest, in France I was not disappointed. I don’t like to be overtaken, but that’s the same for everyone. But I was on the podium again and we are the most consistent team and I think we are doing a better job. I have extended my lead in the World Championship, so I couldn’t be happier.

“It is a great feeling to go to Silverstone as the World Championship leader. To do so certainly seemed unimaginable at the start of the season. I’m very, very happy with the job I’ve done and the team have done and I go into my first British GP with the team I always wanted to drive for, and that’s one of the greatest feelings a driver can have.”

After scoring his (and Honda’s) first point of the season, Jenson Button is also feeling a little more upbeat ahead of his home race. “Silverstone will be fun because I have a lot of friends and family coming and the fans treat you the same way even when things are tough. The fans at Silverstone have always been fantastic and there are four Brits to cheer on, so the lead-up will be hectic.”

David Coulthard and Anthony Davidson (in his first British Grand Prix) are both seeking points finishes for Red Bull and Super Aguri respectively, while BMW Sauber and Renault will re-engage their battle for third place overall as Williams look to do well on home ground, Toyota hope to reproduce the speed Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher displaced in the test here in June, and Toro Rosso hope their seamless shift gearbox will translate into Red Bull-matching lap times. With their factory just over the road from the circuit, Spyker would also like to take something good home from this one.

On paper, however, Ferrari are looking very strong. “We are back where we expect to be. You could feel the improvement in the car everywhere, really. In every corner,” Raikkonen said after his second win of the season, which brought the score to two apiece for the four leading contenders.

One thing that may well bring in a degree of uncertainty to the overall equation is the weather, with rain forecast for each day.