New toyota aero package

[Raz]

[coysht]

Well they've finally put an under-cut on the side pods, but I'm sure it was bigger on the F2003-GA!

Not sure why they've gone with the winglets on the front wing (previously run in a different guise at Monaco 2005) when the Renault solution seems to be a much more elegant one.

They really are getting carried away with the fins on the side of the nose, in fact that nose cone set-up looks like its for Monaco, not Bahrain.

They've also got another airbox wing further forward and lower than before - which appears to obstruct access to the crane lifting hole! (someone's got carried away with the aditional fins and wings!!!)


In summary, why the heck has it taken a team with such a big budget, sooo many engineers and Gassa quite so long to come up with a car that already looks 2 or 3 years old!

[S.F. 1]

Toyota step up a gear in Vallelunga
Heavily revised TF106 set to debut

With only three weeks remaining before the season's curtain-raiser at the Bahrain International Circuit, Toyota enters the final stretch of pre-season testing at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy tomorrow with the first run of its race-specification TF106.

The new-look TF106 will show off a totally new aerodynamic package, incorporating the latest developments from Toyota Motorsport's 50 percent Cologne-based windtunnel, where preparatory work for the coming season has been carried out at a relentless pace for the last six months.

"It was always our intention to maximise development time in the windtunnel," explained Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne. "In this way, we have been able to run the mechanical base of the TF106 since the end of November to gather extremely valuable data from the car and the Bridgestone tyres as we concurrently work on honing the most advanced aero package possible for the first three intercontinental races."

"Reliability has always been a key factor of the first races, but whilst we aim to be 100 percent reliable, we also want to be 100 percent competitive. Our approach to the racing season may not enable us to be winter testing champions, but we hope that it will help us to challenge for podiums throughout the season and ultimately Toyota's maiden victory."

No part has gone untouched in the pursuit of the most competitive Toyota to date with notable modifications and improvements to all areas of aerodynamic performance.

"We have looked at every single component to produce what I believe is our most competitive aero package to date," added Gascoyne. "We have a new front wing and rear wing, more sculpted side pods, modified diffuser, restyled engine cover and floor. Everything has been studied, improved, tested and improved again. We have two more tests, one this week in Vallelunga and one next week in Barcelona, during which time we will work to harmonise the TF106 package continuing the encouraging work we have conducted with Bridgestone over the winter."

As the TF106 will benefit from the timely addition of the most advanced aerodynamic components, the product of thorough diligence in the windtunnel, the car will also reap advantages from a meticulous long-lead approach to RVX-06 engine development.

"We have been testing since the start of the year with an RVX-06 engine in race specification, but we are certainly not resting on our laurels. We are always trying to push back the limits, for example, working on the varying levels of RPM that we can have at our disposal during the race weekend."

"We are cautiously confident in the reliability of the engine, having confirmed the two race-weekend mileage demands in recent tests. This week's test in Vallelunga will also be important for us to verify the cooling package of the engine with such a substantial aero step, particularly with the two hottest races of the year coming up in Bahrain and Malaysia. Looking further down the line, we already have some evolutions running on the dyno. It is likely that we will follow a similar route to last year, whereby we introduce more regular steps whenever possible, rather than waiting to release fewer, but bigger upgrades in one go."

Toyota's pit crew members have been additionally busy over the winter months, keeping up to speed with all-important pit stop training, which will once again form an integral part of track success with the reintroduction of tyre changes during the race. But as Team Manager Richard Cregan explains, pit stop training has always played an important part in the race equation.

"Even though tyre changes were not allowed during races last season, we continued our usual training programme regardless as we felt the need to be prepared for any eventuality during the race, including emergency tyre changes," said Cregan. "With this year's reintroduction of tyre changes during the race, we find ourselves in a strong position because our in-house processes have never stopped. Using the Toyota Production System methods, we are always trying to find improvements in our pit stops, something that we are confident will help us during the season."

"Tyre changes will add to the spectacle of F1 races once again and it will also make race strategy preparation and execution more interesting. We will certainly see who has done their homework - I know we have done ours to the best of our ability and I am sure we are capable of getting top marks."

A combined total of 3,578 laps have been completed by two TF106s from the first test on 29 November 2005 up to and including the Jerez test on 9 February. That equates to 15,749km, or around 51 Bahrain Grand Prix...

E.A.
Source Toyota

[S.F. 1]

The revised TF106 uncovered
Definitive Toyota ready to test

Toyota has unveiled a new aerodynamic package for its TF106 race car ahead of the season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain.

The new package has been introduced in time for the final two pre-season tests in Vallelunga and Barcelona and will make its debut at the Italian track on Tuesday. The below outlines the major differences between the TF106 that has been testing since the end of November 2005 and the version that will race in Bahrain.

The new nose is based on the strong spoon shape form.

1) The new flaps are more twisted compared to the similar ones introduced at Monaco in 2005
2) There are additional little horizontal fins
3) There is a new outside fin
4) A double profile is attached to the nose cone
5) New more aerodynamic wishbone shape
6) different turning vanes
7) new fins in front of the side pods with vertical splitter
8) New smaller winglet attached to the top of the side pods
9) More sculptured side pods
10) New position of the exhausts with small side gills for the exit of hot air (12)
11) New winglet integrated with chimneys
13) Different position of mini wing
14) New engine cover with better shape to cover the gearbox
15) Mini plane attached to the deformable structure

The TF106 that tests at Vallelunga from 14 February includes an all-new aero package for the first races.

1) New front wing with different end plate and external side fin
2) An additional pair of fins located beside the nose cone that makes 4 fins in total
3) Modified guide vanes
4) New aero spec in front of the side pods with little vertical turning vanes
5) Side pods more sculpted in the low section to increase airflow to the back of the car
6) New position of the side pods winglet
7) Four winglets in the airbox area instead of two
8) New position of the exhausts and small outlet gills for removal of hot air
9) New winglet integrated with the chimneys
10) The bodywork in front of the rear tyres has been modified
11) Only one vertical fin in the lower section towards the rear of the car
12) New diffuser
13) New deformable structure to cope with a more severe crash test

The major differences between the car used in winter testing and the one used at the Vallelunga test are concentrated in the side pods

1) New turning vanes with little vertical splitter and a second little gurney flap (2) attached to the horizontal fin with a modified shape
3) The side pods are much narrower in the low part to match the reduced cooling needs and to improve the airflow to the rear of the car
4) Winglets are new and smaller than the previous ones
5) New chimneys are mounted with an increased angle towards the oustside and are integrated with new winglet of the side pods

The new aero package starts with a new front wing, based on the 2005 Monaco front wing that already had a second small wing (2).
The new version also includes a small fin on the inside (1) and also on outside (3).
At the side of the nose cone there are 2 additional fins (4).
The first two fins (on top) were introduced already at the start of the 2005 season.

E.A.
Source Toyota

[endplate]

It's a car that is seriously struggling for grip judging by the amount of bits been bolted on it. None of the other top teams have this many bits stuck on. I think Toyota are in for another average year this year

[coysht]

Originally posted by endplate
It's a car that is seriously struggling for grip judging by the amount of bits been bolted on it. None of the other top teams have this many bits stuck on. I think Toyota are in for another average year this year

I want to know what they're playing at.

They have more money than god, and a chief designer who lays claim to a large chunk of Renault's recent sucess in car design.

I'm sure they can (and have) made a really powerful engine, but it's being let down by a very average chassis.

They have the largest sidepods of anyone (possibly even Midland - who use the same engine!) and I just don't see why.


This actually looks better from an aero point of view (it might not be, but it sure looks it!)

[Someguy]

I wonder if Ferrari are gonna have this many mods with their aero package?

[coysht]

Originally posted by Someguy
I wonder if Ferrari are gonna have this many mods with their aero package?

Doubt it.

Toyota seem to go in for actually making every single thing they work on in the wind tunnel.

They actually always plan to have a B spec car mid season, most other teams try and get everything major onto the car at the start of the season, and then do little updates as they go through the year, and will save anything big for the following year.

[SS454]

So lets see, after the TF105B, Toyota built a completely new car for testing (the TF106), now this is another completely new car, regardless of its name, and they plan to build another new car by Monaco. Yeah thats really cost saving, and they whine about Ferrari testing in Bahrain.

[quasi celestial]

I think this is still the same chassis but with different bodywork, no? so technically it's not a new car and doesn't quite comprise the same manufacturing, budgetary and logistical challenge as a new chassis would. Anyway I agree with you: they effectively put on track 3 cars a year if this form continues. (TF106 - TF106B - TF107), they used the TF105B for 2 races! and Gascoyne has the audacity to criticise teams going to Bahrain, when his team will benefit greatly from the tyre testing Ferrari will do there.

:laff @ the sidepods, last year's Minardi had way more undercut...

[SS454]

The body work is pretty much the chassis. Its not like a tube frame chassis'd car that has a body skinned around it, the body is the structural chassis of an F1 car. With all those changes, it is effectively a new car.

[coysht]

Originally posted by SS454
The body work is pretty much the chassis. Its not like a tube frame chassis'd car that has a body skinned around it, the body is the structural chassis of an F1 car. With all those changes, it is effectively a new car.

The bits of bodywork they have changed are not part of the chassis itself, hence its still a TF106 and not a B spec car.

But they will indeed have technically had 3 cars in 4 races come bahrain.

I can see their point with this update, of releasing the mechanicals of the car and getting the mileage up, while they hone the aero, but I can't really see where they've made much of an improvement over the old spec considering the time they've had to do it.


Toyota really ought to stop going on about cost cutting, as they seem to spend the most, and do stupid things like building about 5 of every car minimum (other teams might have 5 to 7 cars in total per year, Toyota might break into double figures easily).

[coysht]

Originally posted by quasi celestial
:laff @ the sidepods, last year's Minardi had way more undercut...

That Minardi was a really good car from an aero point of view, it just never got the windtunnel time and development thrown at it to optimise it.

Those side pods were arguably the most undercut of any V10 car.

[SS454]

The sidepods are drastically different, and thats not a simple addon. Its structure, its basis of cooling, packaging, etc.... thats part of the chassis if you ask me. Its like saying the F2004 was the same chassis as the F2003GA because they use the same monocoque. To me this is a TF106B, if not a TF107.

[coysht]

Originally posted by SS454
The sidepods are drastically different, and thats not a simple addon. Its structure, its basis of cooling, packaging, etc.... thats part of the chassis if you ask me. Its like saying the F2004 was the same chassis as the F2003GA because they use the same monocoque. To me this is a TF106B, if not a TF107.

For starters, the F2003 and F2004 did not share the same Monocoque.

Secondly, changing the outer edge of the sidepod everso slightly is not a major change. From what they've said, the internals were the same all along, they just slapped last years (or very similar to) topbody onto it until now.

In F1 circles, the naming of the cars tends to go with the Monocoque. A totally new monocoque will be given a new name, a major modification will get a letter.

The letters are also used sometimes for major bodywork/suspension and engine upgrades.

They didn't say it was the TF107 (or even the B for that matter), its still the TF106.

[SS454]

i know its still called the TF106, im saying because the changes are so drastic, its basically a brand new car. To me it should be called a B spec. And the sidepods are a major change as it does play a big role to the overall chassis design.

The F2004 and F2003GA thing was just an example, because their monocoques look virtually the same.

[coysht]

Originally posted by SS454
i know its still called the TF106, im saying because the changes are so drastic, its basically a brand new car. To me it should be called a B spec. And the sidepods are a major change as it does play a big role to the overall chassis design.

The F2004 and F2003GA thing was just an example, because their monocoques look virtually the same.

I don't think they are big changes. It seems alot like they designed all the internals and then just changed the outer skin of the sidepods (if you did anymore it would require a new crash test, and then you'd call it a B spec car).

[SS454]

However you want to call it, its a huge change over the original car, and the fact they plan to make second incredibly huge package (the b spec car) for monaco, thats a lot of money.

I think these changes should have a big increase in downforce, but they dont look very efficient. Tracks like Hungary it should be pretty fast, but on a track like Canada or USA, Im not sure.

[Amadeus]

Its really an interesting way of developing an F1 car...

Start by introducing a BASE model very early in the off-season, with which you can test electronics, the engine reliability, tyres etc....

Continue to work on aerodynamics in the wind tunnel and utlize the data you have already obtained follwing 2 months of testing...

In contrast to Ferrari which are using:

F2004 - V8
F2004 - detuned V10
248F1

and so on...

[quasi celestial]

I mean really...the crap sticking out from every bit of free panel is comical...it's like the bodywork is magnetic and has attracted any bit of metal that happens to be near it as it rides on through...

But hell if it works fair play to them.

[coysht]

Originally posted by quasi celestial
I mean really...the crap sticking out from every bit of free panel is comical...it's like the bodywork is magnetic and has attracted any bit of metal that happens to be near it and isn't bolted down.

But hell if it works fair play to them.

In general you only stick that many extra bits all over a car if you have a problem.

Seeing it in a photo I amazed that this is what they've come up with. It looks like it should be a backmarker car with poor developement, not one of the best funded teams in the sport.

[Tifoso]

Originally posted by coysht
In general you only stick that many extra bits all over a car if you have a problem.

Exactly...trying to tweak the car "after market" , as it were.

[quasi celestial]

I wouldn't want to be the airflow that's about to hit that.

I suppose they've got a Macca style rear wing which looks nice.

[Tifoso]

Originally posted by quasi celestial


I wouldn't want to be the airflow that's about to hit that.

: : :

[coysht]

Originally posted by quasi celestial
I wouldn't want to be the airflow that's about to hit that.

:

I think you've just about hit the nail on the head there.

[rossa04]

what a mess!

[Tommy_F]

It has more sharp stuff sticking out of it then a cactus!:

[ali355]

Looks like they covered it with superglue and drove it through Halfords! (I think its Jeremy Clarkson that has the copyright on that joke.......)

[quasi celestial]

Well Gascoyne seems satisfied(ish) with the results:

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=109879

But then again he would be.

[Jack Newtown]

I'd like to expand on a few points I picked up on in this thread...

A B spec car is on that has a substantially revised or redesigned chassis aka monocoque.
The monocoque is the part of the car which the driver sits in and the front suspension is bolted onto, the gas tank is stuffed into and the engine and nose cone are bolted onto. The side pods are naturally part of this structure.

Ideally the monocoque would serve all of the above functions and be as aerodynamic as possible. The rear wing, any of the numerous winglets, chimney and the nose cone and front wing assembly are strapped on so those components are always the first to be redesigned and often are changed to suit the specific race.

Toyotas strategy is really a different way of looking at development thoughout the season and a way I think more teams ought to consider. Engines don't last forever... The casting is tired after a few rebuilds though is usually replaced with a different specification as it becomes available and the same should be true for monocoques.

Monocoques themselves are retired after a few races as they too become tired from the enormous stresses and vibrations that the circuits and the engines subject them to. Keep in mind that they are made of layered carbon and epoxy which apart would twist in the wind like todays laundry.

Toyota will eventually create a suitable monocoque out of the gate and only require a slight revision on the B-spec but until then they are doomed to throw vast resources into overcoming the intial limitations of their design.