Toro Rosso STR8
Formula One racing car
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Toro Rosso STR8[6] (initially referred to as the Toro Rosso STR08)[7] is a Formula One racing car designed and built by Scuderia Toro Rosso for use in the 2013 Formula One season. It was driven by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne,[5] both of whom drove for the team in 2012.[8]
Luca Furbatto (Chief Designer)
Paolo Marabini (Chief Engineer, R&D and Structures)
Matteo Piraccini (Chief Engineer, Systems)
Laurent Mekies (Head of Vehicle Performance)
Nicolò Petrucci (Head of Aerodynamics)
Jean-Éric Vergne in his STR8 during the Malaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Toro Rosso | ||||||||||
| Designers | James Key (Technical Director)[1] Luca Furbatto (Chief Designer) Paolo Marabini (Chief Engineer, R&D and Structures) Matteo Piraccini (Chief Engineer, Systems) Laurent Mekies (Head of Vehicle Performance) Nicolò Petrucci (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Toro Rosso STR7 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Toro Rosso STR9 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[2][3] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre composite monocoque incorporating front and side impact structures | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar Sachs springs and anti roll bars, pushrod suspension | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | As front but pullrod | ||||||||||
| Length | 5,100 mm (201 in; 17 ft) | ||||||||||
| Width | 1,800 mm (71 in; 6 ft) | ||||||||||
| Height | 950 mm (37 in; 3 ft) | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | Over 3,100 mm (122 in; 10 ft) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Ferrari Tipo 056 (2012-spec) 2,398 cc (146 cu in) V8 (90°) naturally-aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS, mid-mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Red Bull Technology 7-speed hydraulic actuated sequential paddle shift | ||||||||||
| Power | 750 + 80 hp (559 + 60 kW) with KERS | ||||||||||
| Weight | 642 kg (including driver and camera) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Shell V-Power[note 1] | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Shell Helix[note 1] | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)[4] | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Scuderia Toro Rosso | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 18.  Jean-Éric Vergne[5]19.  Daniel Ricciardo[5] | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2013 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
This was the last Toro Rosso car to use a Ferrari engine since 2007 before switching to Renault for 2014 Formula One season and the last Toro Rosso car to use a V8 engine.
Season summary
The STR8 proved to be quite unreliable throughout the season, particularly in the European rounds, culminating in an embarrassing hydraulic failure at the 2013 Italian Grand Prix courtesy of Jean-Éric Vergne. However, the mid-season proved the effectiveness of the chassis: on circuits where engine power is not so vital, the cars were competitive and scored a highest finish at 6th place courtesy of Jean-Éric Vergne by a salvation.
The poor performance of the Ferrari engine caused Franz Tost to look for an alternative. Discussions for a deal with Renault came into fruition and eventually Toro Rosso would switch their allegiance to Renault engines from 2014 season onwards.[9]
The team eventually finished a respectable eighth in the Constructors' Championship, with 33 points.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | Grands Prix | Points | WCC | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | MAL | CHN | BHR | ESP | MON | CAN | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | KOR | JPN | IND | ABU | USA | BRA | |||||||
| 2013 | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Ferrari Type 056 | P | Jean-Éric Vergne |
12 | 10 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 12 | 12 | Ret | 14 | 18† | 12 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 33 | 8th |
| Daniel Ricciardo |
Ret | 18† | 7 | 16 | 10 | Ret | 15 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 7 | Ret | 19† | 13 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 10 | ||||||
† Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.
Notes
- Despite CEPSA is an oil and gas company as a major sponsor of Scuderia Toro Rosso since mid-2011 season, the CEPSA branding appears on the STR8, but the car uses Shell V-Power fuels and Shell Helix lubricants.[3]
