TF105 will change 'substantially'

The team revealed at the launch that a revised aerodynamic package would be seen on the new car in Melbourne. The changes to Formula 1's technical regulations for 2005 have led to a programme of constant development and alteration at Toyota, with the team working hard to minimise the amount of downforce lost as a result of the new rules.

"Initially, we lost around 25 per cent of downforce with the new aero regulations, but we are striving to reduce this by the largest possible amount in time for the first race of the season in Australia," said Toyota's technical director Mike Gascoyne.

Because the new regulations represent such a substantial change to the F1 rules, Toyota stopped development on its 2004 car last summer and instead focussed on ensuring that the 2005 chassis maximised the possibilities of the revised rules - although the TF105 is ostensibly an evolution of its predecessor.

The new car's electronic systems have been specifically designed to aid tyre durability, as teams will be unable to change tyres during races from the start of this season. The engine department, led by Luca Marmorini, has had to design a unit capable of lasting twice the duration required in 2004. Toyota has also engaged in unprecedented levels of windtunnel activity as it tries to negate the downforce-reducing effect of the regulations as much as possible.

"We have placed a lot more resources into the windtunnel area over the last year and I hope that the TF105 will represent the fruits of our labours," said Gascoyne. "Since the end of 2003 we have restructured the chassis area considerably in order to place more emphasis on our work in the windtunnel, not simply to increase the number of parts being tested, but more importantly to enhance the accuracy of the results."

Although conforming to the 2005 rules has required drastic action by Toyota, much of the new car can still be traced back to last season's TF104B.

"Mechanically, the car is an evolution," said chief designer Gustav Brunner. "We worked hard to reduce the weight of the car from the TF104 to the TF104B. This has now naturally progressed to the TF105, but the devil is in the detail, so we have made many meticulous changes to the mechanical side of the car."

This attention to improving the detail of the design has been one of the team's main aims, as Gascoyne explained: "Aside from the aerodynamics, we have improved in all other areas of the car by paying close attention to the detailed design," he said. "Gustav and his team have looked at the entire mechanical package and put in a large effort particularly on the rear end of the car, something we felt was one of our weaknesses last season.

"We have greatly enhanced stiffness and damping characteristics at the rear of the TF105. As part of this process, we have also concentrated on producing a lighter and stiffer gearbox."

Gascoyne also believes that the integration between chassis and engine departments at Toyota has proved to be a significant advantage in the new design. "We have worked closely on the engine installation, producing a significantly improved package," he said. "Overall performance has not been compromised at any stage and there has been a highly proficient co-operation between chassis and engine, which is only possible with Toyota's all-under-one-roof philosophy."