The Toyota TF103 was the car with which the Toyota F1 team competed in the 2003 Formula One season. The chassis was designed by Gustav Brunner and René Hilhorst with Luca Marmorini designing the engine. Unveiled on January 8, 2003 at the Paul Ricard circuit, its drivers were the Frenchman Olivier Panis and Brazilian Cristiano da Matta, the reigning CART FedEx Championship Series Champion from 2002.[2][3]

Toyota TF103
Olivier Panis driving the TF103 at the 2003 British Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorToyota
Designer(s)Keizo Takahashi (Technical Director)
Gustav Brunner (Chief Designer)
René Hilhorst [ja] (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorTF102
SuccessorTF104
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Pushrod with Torsion bar
Suspension (rear)Pushrod with Torsion bar
EngineToyota RVX-03 3.0-litre 72-degree V10 naturally-aspirated mid-engined
TransmissionToyota 7-speed, semi-automatic
Power845 hp @ 18,400 rpm[1]
FuelEsso
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsPanasonic Toyota Racing
Notable drivers20. France Olivier Panis
21. Brazil Cristiano da Matta
Debut2003 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2003 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
16000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0
Toyota TF103 Steering wheel
TF103 presented in London on 6 July 2004

Development

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The TF103 was quite a conservative design, by the team's admission it was more of a 'logical evolution' from its predecessor the TF102. Lighter and with more downforce, the car was a joint effort between Gustav Brunner's design team and Keizo Takahashi, chief of Technical co-ordination.

The biggest improvement over the TF102 came with the engine, the RVX-03 had been tested for the first time in September 2002 and offered the team benefits twofold over the RVX-02; it was lighter, and provided more power. The engine was the brainchild of Italian designer Luca Marmorini.[4]

Performance

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Olivier Panis leads teammate Cristiano da Matta during the British Grand Prix, where the Toyota cars briefly held a 1-2 lead

The TF103 stepped up a level in terms of performance too, with the car scoring a total of sixteen points between its drivers, da Matta outscoring Panis 10-6. Perhaps the most notable race involving the TF103 was at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix when both cars ran 1-2 for a time amidst the confusion brought about by a track invader on the 11th lap.[5]

In the constructors standings, Toyota finished in eighth, still some way off the performance their massive budget should have allowed, but equally too, it was a notable improvement on their 2002 finish.[6]

Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
2003 TF103 Toyota RVX-03 V10 M AUS MAL BRA SMR ESP AUT MON CAN EUR FRA GBR GER HUN ITA USA JPN 16 8th
  Olivier Panis Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 13 8 Ret 8 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 10
  Cristiano da Matta Ret 11 10 12 6 10 9 11 Ret 11 7 6 11 Ret 9 7

References

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  1. ^ statsf1.com/en/moteur-toyota.aspx
  2. ^ "Panis joins Toyota as McNish loses seat". The Guardian. 28 August 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ^ "ToyotaF1 sign up CART champion da Matta". Motorsport.com. 5 November 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Toyota launch the TF103". Motorsport.com. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  5. ^ "British GP: Toyota race notes". Motorsport.com. 20 July 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  6. ^ "2003 Constructor Standings". Formula 1. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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