Ove Andersson and a past 50 percent wind tunnel model
http://www.toyota-f1.com
Ove Andersson and a past 50 percent
wind tunnel model
The announcement of Toyota's decision to enter Formula One was made by Mr Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of the Board in January 1999.
Toyota has an ambitious long term vision of being able to challenge for the FIA Formula One Constructor and Driver titles. Nothing less! It's an exciting vision that demands an enormous commitment of resources and time, requiring them to leverage all of their world-leading skills, systems and technology. Week after week, year after year. To innovate, to race, to perfect, to win.
"It's a huge undertaking to fully prepare for Formula One but we believe the rewards are well worth it", says Akihiko Saito, Senior Managing Director, Toyota Motor Corporation, responsible for overall Toyota Motorsports activities including F1.
As both engine and chassis builder, Toyota has made a huge commitment to the Toyota F1 programme and the full resources of Toyota will be available to the team to ensure the best possible result. More importantly, beyond the track, we will be fully leveraging our Formula One participation in our marketing, advertising and communication activities.
Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), Cologne, was chosen as the natural base for this new initiative. There already existed a large specialised motorsport facility with skilled staff and a long and successful track record in World Championship Rally and Le Mans GT sportscar racing.
An expansion programme started to increase the existing facility of some 18,000sqm to over 30,000sqm and to include new raceshops, design, development, manufacture and assembly of the entire car. Other features are a 50% windtunnel, a helipad and the latest in CNC machining equipment.
The Toyota Formula One V10 engine programme will be entirely designed and built in house in Cologne by a team of talented engineers headed by Norbert Kreyer and Luca Marmorini and supported by the engineering facilities in TMC Japan. The team is equipped with a total of eight engine dynamometers for the extensive bench testing that will be required. The first single-cylinder engine model is already running and the first F1 engine is expected to fire up in September 2000.
The Toyota F1 chassis has been under design since mid 1999 by a team headed by Jean-Claude Martens and a number of wind tunnel models have been constructed and tested in the Lola facility in England. Computer simulation techniques have been used to optimise the aerodynamic package that is such an important element of a modern Formula One car.
Toyota have already started the task of developing and proving various vehicle components such as hydraulics and brakes via an intensive testing programme with the Le Mans GT-One car driven by Allan McNish. This programme will continue throughout 2000. In spring 2001 testing of the first Toyota Formula One test car is scheduled to commence. It is hoped that this meticulous approach to preparation for Formula One competition will enable the team to be as reliable and competitive as possible when they "hit the ground running" in 2002.
The first Toyota Formula One
racecar will launch early in 2002 and compete in that year's FIA Formula One
World Championship.
Toyota Motorsport
Toyota Motor Corporation has a long and distinguished history of international motorsport success. The company has been most noted in recent years for multiple victories in the World Rally Championship and CART in the USA backed up by strong performances at the Le Mans 24 Hour classic. But Toyota's sporting influence spreads much further afield and has been a constant feature of the Corporate profile taking in an impressive catalogue of formulae:
IMSA Sports Cars
Japan GT Championship
Formula Three
Toyota Atlantic Championship Series
Formula Toyota Championship Japan
NASCAR Dash
Touring Cars
Pikes Peak
Rally Raid
Desert Racing (Baja)
History
In 1936, Kiichiro Toyoda announced his first prototype car. In 1999 Toyota produced its 100 millionth vehicle. For over 60 years Toyota has not only revolutionised the car industry, but has made an impact on manufacturing industries. Famous for the development of the Toyota Production System (TPS), which applied the principles of "Build Quality into the Process" and "Just-In-Time manufacturing", Toyota introduced new standards of quality in automotive manufacturing and continues to lead the world today. TPS helps maintain Toyota's high standards in 53 plants in 26 countries around the world, with annual production exceeding 5.4 million vehicles.
A design, research and development
network spread across the three major car markets of the world enables Toyota
to produce vehicles that meet local demands and taste. A principle of respect
for differing cultures and customs has led to economic and social development
through corporate activities in communities and support for beneficial causes
at the local level.
Philosophy
Toyota is committed to being a "good corporate citizen" and is deeply aware of both its world influence and responsibilities. The corporate vision is "harmonious growth" - growth based on harmony between people, society and the global environment. It drives Toyota to enrich the lives of an increasing number of people in the world to work to make the earth a better, more enjoyable place to live.
Under its guiding principles Toyota practices openness and fairness in its corporate activities, striving for clean, safe and comfortable transportation. Its philosophy of creativity and innovation demonstrates the spirit of pioneering and technical excellence and guides the work with business partners and the international community to build trust and respect and achieve stable, long-term growth and mutual benefits.
Drivers - Allan McNish (ALMS World Champion)
& Mika Salo