Toyota unveil new car and win circuit war.

[MagpieRacer]

Link: http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=103690

The Toyota team unveiled its Formula One car for the 2006 season as winter testing is set to kick off in Barcelona.

The Japanese team, known for its early car launches since joining F1 in 2000, unleashed the new car some three months before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Technical director for chassis Mike Gascoyne believes the head start could offer the Toyota team a significant advantage.

"We have been working on the TF106 since the end of 2004," said Gascoyne, "and the introduction of this car at such an early stage is a true testament to the work of the team and shows we are able to react and push forward at a rate that is necessary to be at the forefront of Formula One."

The TF106 sports a new rear end, designed to accommodate the new V8 engine, with a development of the monocoque and front suspension of the TF105B interim car that was brought in for the final two races of 2005.

Gascoyne said the new car will run at Barcelona this week.

"We are adopting a similar schedule to last season by testing the car early," Gascoyne said.

"It allows us to develop the mechanical side of the car thoroughly before we introduce a new aero package in time for the first race," he explained.

"This strategy helped us to be extremely competitive at the start of 2005," Gascoyne said, "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," added the technical director, "but the major design change is implementation of the V8 engine in line with the new technical regulations, which has resulted in the redesign of the rear end."

Toyota wins!

Toyota has prevailed in a bidding war with Honda for the right to stage the Japanese Grand Prix. After buying Fuji International Speedway in 2000, Toyota has made no secret of its intention to hold the race there. Toyota has since invested almost $170 million in upgrading the venue, which has now passed its FIA inspection.

Two world championship races were held at Fuji in 1976 and 1977, but all subsequent events have been run at the Honda-owned Suzuka, whose contract will expire in 2006.

I like the idea of Fuji hosting the Japanese GP, and i like the look of the Toyota.

Credits to MinorShunt for the link:tup:

 

[Lee]

I guess its nice to have a change but why Suzuka? That's one of the best tracks on the calender. Fuji is a good track but I don't think its at Suzuka's level.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I agree. From having driven it in GT4, Fuji looks fairly dull.

 

[Lee]

I wouldn't say its dull, it promotes overtaking for sure, but it has no majorly impressive corners like the 130R at Suzuka or Eau Rouge at Spa or "Raikkonen" as we like to call it at Istanbul...

I can't see a long term future for that track as a Formula 1 track.

 

[X-Othermic]

Suzuka is one of the last few "great" circuits. They almost got rid of Belguim, don't get rid of Suzuka. What about the fantastic race we had last season when Kimi passed Fisichella on the last lap?

 

[Lee]

when Kimi passed Fisichella on the last lap?

Although it was a great pass, it was fairly easy Kimi had bout 10 mph more over Fisi or something like that, Alonso's round Schumi was in my view much more difficult.

You see, Fuji will not create such disscussions.

 

[Roo]

I hope it stays at Suzuka. I did the Fuji race on GT4 Formula Gran Turismo championship recently, and hated it. No character to the place, and the scond half of the lap is too Mickey Mouse and repetitive. (Remember, that's based purely on playing it in GT4.) Than I did Suzuka, and it was brilliant. Fingers crossed for Suzuka.

 

[Mr. Boy]

I think they should have 2 grands prix in Japan. One would be the Japanese GP, the other would host the Pacific GP. Whatever they do, I hope they don't ditch Suzuka.

 

[X-Othermic]

I think they should have 2 grands prix in Japan. One would be the Japanese GP, the other would host the Pacific GP. Whatever they do, I hope they don't ditch Suzuka.

There was speculation that America would host two races.... either that or get rid of Indianapolis, and move to the West Coast. Can't remember where though. Two races in Japan would make the calander too big. There are enough races as it is.

 

[ExigeEvan]

So ditch the European Grand Prix then!?
And yeah Fuji does seem abit of a nothing track but it does have good height changes and I do find the end half of the circuit quite good.

It looks a decent car and this should be Toyota's year.

 

[kensei]

Suzuka is probably the best circuit according to the drivers currently in F1 next to Spa....why replace it with the crap that is the new Fuji? I can see a Japanese GP at Fuji and a Pacific or Asian GP at Suzuka.

I have no issue with f1 being at Fuji, but not at the expense of Suzuka.

 

[Omnis]

Why can't they make Suzuka AND Fuji GP's? This sucks. Suzuka is the greatest, but two Japanese GP's would be awesome. Think of the rivalry and stuff.

 

[Blake]

Yeah, have a Pacific GP (Fuji) after Malaysia, then have the Japanese GP (Suzuka) towards the end of the year. This gives time for the fans to get the money to go to both events, and gives us another GP to watch.

 

[Pupik]

So ditch the European Grand Prix then!?

If it means no more races at the antiseptic, pre-Tilke, ersatz waste known as the "Nürburgring", then yes.

 

[Omnis]

Well, the FIA are all about ADDING circuits instead of replacing them. I think replacing Suzuka would be blasphemous, and it might wind up creating a bigger fiasco than the USGP did.

 

[X-Othermic]

If it means no more races at the antiseptic, pre-Tilke, ersatz waste known as the "Nürburgring", then yes.

Is it just me, or is the European GP at the new Nurb always boring? I know we had a thriller last year (who can't say they were annoyed when Kimi retired on the last lap?) but it never can claim to have a "classic" race. but i've been to Sliverstone in the past two years and seen two excellent races. Perhaps they should get rid of the European GP, because it really has no value.

 

[Omnis]

Well...if they can have a EuroGP in germany, and then the German GP, then a Pacific GP at either suzuka or fuji makes sense.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well...if they can have a EuroGP in germany, and then the German GP, then a Pacific GP at either suzuka or fuji makes sense.

That was kinda the point I was making. If it's so wrong to have two GPs in one country why the hell do they do it in Germany?

 

[Kylehnat]

Well, the FIA are all about ADDING circuits instead of replacing them. I think replacing Suzuka would be blasphemous, and it might wind up creating a bigger fiasco than the USGP did.

How do you figure?

I like Suzuka a lot, but I don't thnk the earth would stop spinning if the Japanese GP were at Fuji for a couple years.

 

[Blake]

That was kinda the point I was making. If it's so wrong to have two GPs in one country why the hell do they do it in Germany?

And Italy.

 

[MinorShunt]

Unfortunately F1 has a long history of ditching driver's courses for more fan friendly, profitable, and safe (read boring) courses. For example, Watkins Glen, Kyalami, Osteriechring(the old A1 ring), Mosport, Zandvoort, the old nurb, LeSarthe, etc. I'm sure everyone has their fav F1 track that no longer exists as an F1 event.

In the last 40 some odd years there have been more than 65 different venues (not counting all the redesigns) used by F1 with the race season being anywhere from 9-19 races long.
As you all know, up till recently, the season was always about 16 long. I would be very suprised if there were 2 Japanese events maintained. Eccelstone doesn't seem to want to add more weekends, just different venues. It really looks like Suzuka will see its last F1 race next year. At least for a while...... 👎

More likely IMO is that F1 will dump the British, French, Canadian, and San Marino GP's in favor of events in Mexico, Russia, India, and South Africa in the next few years. Reason? No bans on tobacco product adverts in these countries.

 

[Kylehnat]

But tobacco sponsorships will be banned...

 

[Lee]

More likely IMO is that F1 will dump the British, French, Canadian, and San Marino GP's in favor of events in Mexico, Russia, India, and South Africa in the next few years. Reason? No bans on tobacco product adverts in these countries.

But then you can easially add USA, Spain and Hungary to the list.

 

[MinorShunt]

But then you can easially add USA, Spain and Hungary to the list.

Absolutely! I'm not convinced that F1 will have a race at Indy next year after the debacle this year. And you are correct that both Spain and Hungary have been mentioned as events that may be moved.

@Kylehnat: Yes tobacco ads will be/are banned in EU countries, which is one of the reasons they want to move races to more non-EU locales............IMO of course. There's still 5 teams with major sponsorship from tobacco, and my understanding is that they lose a certain amount of income when they can't fully display the sponsor logo at a race.

There's also still an issue to resolve of TV broadcasts of cars with illegal tobacco adverts in non-EU race locales to EU countries. My understanding is that even broadcasting the races to EU countries may be illegal. Does anyone here from Europe have any updated information on that? I would be interested to know!

 

[Omnis]

You're taking a shunt from reason.

 

[Lee]

There's still 5 teams with major sponsorship from tobacco, and my understanding is that they lose a certain amount of income when they can't fully display the sponsor logo at a race.

That could be a good thing.

Think about it, the 5 teams with tobacco sponsorship, 4 of them are Ferrari, Renault, McMerc and Honda.

(Excluding Renault prehaps) They are some of the richest teams on the grid, if they can't generate money at certain races, therefore their advance in certain areas will be pegged down, thus allowing the less advantaged teams money wise to play a little catch up.

Plus how is it a world championship if there's no GP's from Europe? Also somehow I think Monaco will be staying for a very VERY long time.

 

[MinorShunt]

And also there is some speculation that the demise of tobacco ads in F1 will actually bring more sponsor money into the sport from companies that have been put off by the tobacco/F1 connection. But an estimated $300M in revenue is tough to replace.

No matter what, I think there will always be plenty of events in Europe. Europe is the mainstay of F1. They will work it out. There have always been wild rumors and speculations surrounding F1, and probably always will. Makes it interesting.


@Omnis- When has reason ever been a factor in the happenings of F1?

 

[Kylehnat]

@Omnis- When has reason ever been a factor in the happenings of F1?

Admittedly, not often, but in terms of replacing European dates with non-Euro races, it's not likely to happen at a staggering rate because of tobacco bans. The so-called "fly away" races are very expensive for the teams, as sticking all of their cars and equipment in a shipping crate and flying it halfway around the world in a few days costs just a tiny bit more than hauling it around Europe in the team transports. Big teams with huge budgets can absorb this cost, but for the smaller teams, this is a problem (although "small" teams are disappearing in favor of manufacturer-backed teams). Even though the percentage of European races has gone down, the overall number has stayed the same, since new dates are just added, and don't replace anything. Also, plenty of races in Europe are run in tobacco-free livery, and it doesn't seem to affect their place on the calendar.

 

[Blake]

Think about it, the 5 teams with tobacco sponsorship, 4 of them are Ferrari, Renault, McMerc and Honda.

(Excluding Renault prehaps) They are some of the richest teams on the grid, if they can't generate money at certain races, therefore their advance in certain areas will be pegged down, thus allowing the less advantaged teams money wise to play a little catch up.

McLaren don’t have tobacco sponsorship, Honda will lose it after next year, and Renault might not be in the sport for much longer anyway…

Ferrari, meanwhile, have signed a deal with Marlboro until 2012.

 

[Omnis]

Marlboro better start making jello or something.