Formula One news

Toro Rosso reveals 2009 car

Toro Rosso's latest contender, the STR4, has been unveiled to the press at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya this morning. The Ferrari-powered car was revealed by Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais and F1 newcomer Sebastien Buemi.

Having finished sixth in the 2008 standings after taking a pole and win with Vettel at Monza, the team is looking to improve further up the grid this year. Team manager Gianfranco Fantuzzi stressed the effort that has gone into their latest model: "For the first time ever, we have made the actual chassis in-house, whereas last year it was produced by Carbotec in Austria. This has been a big challenge for us and the chassis took up 100 percent of our energy up to the start of the season. We also had to take on more staff with good qualifications in the fields of laminating and trimming. In fact, before tackling the STR4, we actually made a 2008 STR3 chassis to see how it would work out and that proved to be a very valuable experience."

Giorgio Ascanelli, Technical Director

Technical Director Giorgio Ascanelli stresses that the STR4 is a solely Italian-built product: "Red Bull technology does extremely significant work in defining the essential characteristics of the new car: its length, wheelbase, weight distribution and its basic metric characteristics. However, as we run a different engine to our sister team, it involves a different fuel system and fuel tank. Therefore, our car is completely different that of Red Bull Racing and is designed here by us." The Italian has confidence in the ex-Minardi squad from Faenza: "It's going to be an interesting season. I think it's good that the guys here get the chance to control their own destiny in a way, but at the moment we only have about a dozen people on the design side so we're a decade out in terms of manpower!"

more news

• 28 Nov.
  • Lola ready to enter Formula 1
  • Raikkonen close to Citroen WRC deal
  • Tung looking for 'useful' test
• 27 Nov.
  • Montreal seals Formula One contract
  • GPUpdate TV: Domenicali - high hopes for 2010
  • Jerez test: The cast
  • Wurz plays down USF1 link
  • Renault to test Baguette, Tung and Di Grassi
  • Alonso makes second visit to Ferrari
  • Force India confirms Sutil and Liuzzi
  • All new teams now FOTA members
  • Sauber buys team back from BMW
  • De la Rosa pushing for race drive
  • Ecclestone: I won't buy Donington
  • Haug becomes part of F1 in Schools
  • Volkswagen to provide F1 engines?
• 26 Nov.
  • Alguersuari: 2010 contract is signed
  • Conway and Ericsson to test for Mercedes
  • 4 driver options left for Lotus
  • 'F1 in need of Schumacher return' - Verstappen
• 25 Nov.
  • 'Fantastic opportunity' - Di Resta on Force India test
  • Recap: N.Technology court bid fails
  • BMW testers excited about Jerez
  • Brawn disappointed with Button drives, ponders Lauda
  • Piquet to drive in Massa kart race
  • Brawn aero chief wins award
  • Gillett disappointed with government position
  • Mercedes hopes to confirm line-up by Christmas
• 24 Nov.
  • Briatore verdict expected in January
  • Donington still hopeful over F1 race
  • Montreal race confirmation imminent
  • Massa names drivers for karting event
  • Campos car passes FIA safety tests
  • Strong test could seal drive, says Mallya
  • Force India to test di Resta and Hildebrand
  • Courts to hear Briatore case
  • Silverstone GP deal forthcoming
• 23 Nov.
  • GPUpdate TV: Sam Michael - building on 2009
  • Theissen waiting on entry decision
  • Mercedes delighted with Rosberg confirmation

Homepage