Page 1 of 1 Ted Toleman's Formula 1 effort had gained momentum during the 1984 season after the team switched from Pirelli to Michelin rubber. Spirited drives from Ayrton Senna in particular with the TG184 had seen the team score its first three podium finishes. The high hopes for the new season were smashed by Michelin's announcement that they would pull out of Formula 1 at the end of 1984.
Goodyear were unable to supply tyres while Pirelli were unwilling due to the conflict that had seen the team switch to the French company halfway through the 1984 season. The status quo was not resolved until after the first three Grands Prix were run. As a result, the team could not debut the new TG185 until the Monaco Grand Prix in May of 1985. This was only made possible after the Spirit team had withdrawn and sold their Pirelli tyre allocation to Toleman's new sponsor Benetton.
Again designed by Rory Byrne, the TG185 was described as a further refinement of the TG184. A distinct difference was that it featured the first carbon-fibre composite monocoque built in-house. The suspension geometry was also modified to suit the particularities of the Pirelli tyres. Further changes included a newly designed rear wing. As in 1984, Toleman relied on the Hart 415T four-cylinder engine, which now produced up to 750 bhp on 2.5 bar of boost. It was mated to a five-speed gearbox that was of proprietary design but used Hewland internals.
Due to the delayed start of the season, lead driver Stefan Johansson opted to take his talents elsewhere. Instead, the single TG185 entered at the Monaco Grand Prix was driven by Italian Teo Fabi. It turned out to be a difficult season for the team with many reliability issues with Fabi only finishing twice in thirteen outings. The young Italian did qualify the TG185 on pole for the German Grand Prix only to retire with clutch issues. Towards the end of the season, Piercarlo Ghinzani was added to the driver line-up. He started in five Grands Prix but did not reach the finish once.
As difficult as it was, the 1985 season proved an interim year for Toleman. At the end of the year, title sponsor Benetton bought the team, which scored its first win late in 1986 with Gerhard Berger at the wheel. The BMW-engined Benetton B186 used by the Austrian was a further development of the TG185. Page 1 of 1
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Great Britain
> Toleman
Racing cars
> Formula 1
Ted Toleman's Formula 1 effort had gained momentum during the 1984 season after the team switched from Pirelli to Michelin rubber. Spirited drives from Ayrton Senna in particular with the TG184 had seen the team score its first three podium finishes. The high hopes for the new season were smashed by Michelin's announcement that they would pull out of Formula 1 at the end of 1984.