The Toyota TF106 (2006 F1 Contender)

[Ed]

The Toyota F1 team is set to become the first Formula 1 team to test their 2006 Contender. Named the TF106, it is expected to make its track debut at the Barcelona track on Tuesday.

Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne said

We have been working on the TF106 since the end of 2004 and the introduction of this car at such an early stage is a true testament to the work of the team and shows that we are able to react and push forward at a rate that is necessary to be at the forefront of Formula 1.
The TF106 that will run in Barcelona marks the first stage of development for this car with continuous improvements planned in the run-up to the first race. We are adopting a similar schedule to last season by testing the car early. This allows us to develop the mechanical side of car thoroughly before we introduce a new aero package in time for the first race. This strategy helped us to be extremely competitive at the start 2005 and we are confident the same will happen in 2006.
The front end of the TF106 is an evolution of our TF105B that raced in Japan and China, but the major design change for 2006 has been the implementation of the V8 engine in line with the new technical regulations, which has resulted in the redesign of the rear end.

The TF106 is powered by the Toyota RVX-06 and will run on Bridgestone tyres.

The TF106 will be officially presented on the 14th of January



Full Toyota Statement

[Ed]

Toyota presented their 2006 F1 challenger at the Toyota manufacturing facility in Valenciennes, France.

The team's stated aims for 2006 is to consistently finish on the podium and ultimitaly win races. Toyota wants to be the best Bridgestone team in 2006.

Toyota Team Principal Tsutomu Tomita said:

It is natural that we enter the 2006 championship with our sights on the top step of the podium. We are pushing very hard, but we don?t underestimate the difficulty of Formula 1 or the challenges we face in 2006.
If somebody goes up, then somebody else has to drop down the order. Even if we can get that first win we will have to push ourselves more to keep that position.

It?s very difficult to predict what will happen, especially with all the variables we face this year with a new V8 engine, new Bridgestone tyres and a revised qualifying format. With that in mind, we should aim to be the best Bridgestone team this year. We were a podium scoring team last year, and any team looking to develop must always set its sights higher. Obviously that means finishing on the podium consistently, and ultimately finishing on the top step.

Full Toyota statement - Luca Marmorini Q & A (Engine) - Mike Gascoyne Q & A (Chassis) - Toyota TF106 Technical Specifications

[Ed]

With Toyota stating it's aim of being the best Bridgestone team and reaching the top step of the podium, we thought of adding a poll to see whether you think those aims are realistic or not.
We'll aim to have a similar poll for each of the contenders as they are presented.

Note: The Bridgestone runners are: Ferrari, Toyota, Williams and MF1

[JayVee]

Yes I do believe Toyota will beat Ferrari this year. They will either finish second or third in the Championship depending on how many Mercedes engines fail .

[Graham Ross]

With the drivers they've got they ain't going anywhere!

They'll get a few poles but that will be it.

[Julian Mayo]

With the drivers they've got they ain't going anywhere!

They'll get a few poles but that will be it.

Aww I can see Trulli lucking into a couple of podiums,.....ie as one of 12 B runners at Indy !

[mlittle]

I think Trulli might actually win a race this year. Heck, even Ralf might have a shot this year....I think.

[JayVee]

Trulli yes, Ralf remote possibility (when all those in front crash out and his brother who starts behind him retires too)

Trust me

[Julian Mayo]

That impeccable source, the Rumour Mill has it that Toyota are having trouble dialing in its cars to suit the Bridgestone tyres.

[sgd]

With the drivers they've got they ain't going anywhere!

They'll get a few poles but that will be it.

I agree with Ross about it too. still it would be nice to see them beating the reds... (still i don't think it is gonna be the case)

[RE30B#16]

Hey guys!

Both Trulli and Ralf have a chance at winning if the Toyota is up to pace with the other big three [or four]. Both are aggressive and get that eye of the tiger if they believe they have the car on race day.

I see Trulli winning early in the season (because he is usually better at the start of seasons), and if the car continues to improve, Ralf taking a win late in the season (Ralf tends to get stronger as the season progresses).

I will go out on a limb and say Trulli will win the first two races of the season and Monaco, and Ralf will win in Canada. I don't see them doing much more than that unless this car is leagues faster and easier on tires late in races.

C

[Julian Mayo]

Hey guys!

Both Trulli and Ralf have a chance at winning if the Toyota is up to pace with the other big three [or four]. Both are aggressive and get that eye of the tiger if they believe they have the car on race day.

I see Trulli winning early in the season (because he is usually better at the start of seasons), and if the car continues to improve, Ralf taking a win late in the season (Ralf tends to get stronger as the season progresses).

I will go out on a limb and say Trulli will win the first two races of the season and Monaco, and Ralf will win in Canada. I don't see them doing much more than that unless this car is leagues faster and easier on tires late in races.

C

The whisper is starting to become a shout that they are having serious problems dialling in the chassis with the bridgestone rubber.
Mind you they can be a tad inscrutable and disseminate with the best of them
1000 roubles says Ralf does not win a race this season. 17 roubles says Ralf sticks it into the wall in a big way affter getting airborne over Trulli's rear wheel during a desperate under brakes and is ordered to sit it out for the rest of the season (having taken big brother out in the same prang, and suffering a mysterious post race concussion,....... and before you ask.....wild turkey)

[BlinkyBill]

Toyota's key test is this next one . . . which interestingly enough, performance data is not readily available on. Toyota are like Williams in that they dont go out in testing to see how fast a lap they can put it - unlike Messrs Renault, Honda, Mclaran. Toyota is one of those teams where practice sessions times are not always indicative of real pace.

They have held back their final race spec car this long . . . we will either see scorching times in the next week or so, or down the constructors list they will go.

[rah]

Toyota will have a brand new aero package with a lot of changes before bahrain. It will be interesting to see if there is much improvement.

[Ed]

Toyota are testing in private at Vallelunga this week with their new aero package that will be used in Bahrain. There are no times available at this stage but an update will be available later this week. There isn't that much data from Vallelunga to compare with though!

Times from testing sessions can be misleading however if a car is genuinely quick it will set fastest times as part of the testing has to be on fresh rubber and low fuel loads.

Last year Renault and McLaren were the pace setters in testing and they turned out to be the fastest during the season. So far it looks like Renault and Honda are the pace setters this year.
The test in Barcelona from the 21st of February should give us more data to analyse as the lap by lap times tell us who is consistently fast and who is fast on a single lap.