Toro Rosso STR1
Scott Speed driving the STR1 during the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorToro Rosso
Designer(s)Mark Smith (Technical Director)
Rob Taylor (Chief Designer)
Ben Agathangelou (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorMinardi PS05
SuccessorSTR2
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Cast titanium uprights, pushrods, carbon-fibre upper and lower wishbones
Suspension (rear)As front
EngineCosworth TJ2006 3.0 L (183 cu in) V10 (90°) Normally aspirated
TransmissionRed Bull seven-speed longitudinally-mounted sequential with hydraulic shift and clutch operation
Power915 hp (682.3 kW) @ 19,000 rpm[2] (rev-limited to 16,700/17,000 rpm)
Weight605 kg (1,334 lb) including driver
FuelBP[3]
LubricantsCosworth Performance Engineered Motor Oil SAE 0W-20
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsScuderia Toro Rosso
Notable drivers20. Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi
21. United States Scott Speed
Debut2006 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event2006 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
18000

The Scuderia Toro Rosso STR1 was the car with which the Scuderia Toro Rosso team competed in the 2006 Formula One season. It was driven by Vitantonio Liuzzi, who had started four Grands Prix for the sister Red Bull Racing team in 2005, and Scott Speed, a débutant who was the first American driver to compete in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993. The STR1 was the first car from the Faenza-based team to use Michelin tyres since the Minardi PS02. The STR1 was also the first Toro Rosso F1 car to feature the mandatory 7-speed gearbox configuration. The STR1 was also the last Formula One car to utilize the 3.0 L V10 engine configuration (previously used between 1995 and 2005) to date, but with 16,700 rpm rev limiter and 77mm air restrictor.[4]

History

2006 marked a new beginning, as Red Bull had bought the Minardi team which had competed in F1 for twenty years and renamed it using the Italian translation of their brand name. The new team inherited Minardi's technical team and its factory at Faenza only, as ex-owner Paul Stoddart kept Minardi's other property in Ledbury. A deal that allowed the team to run restricted V10 engines, instead of V8s, was also maintained despite the new ownership.

This allowed Toro Rosso to use an almost identical version of the previous year's Red Bull RB1 coupled with the same Cosworth engines, only power-restricted under the FIA's equivalency formula and also without any factory support from Cosworth. Both the chassis-sharing and V10 engine usage remained controversial topics throughout the season, as the engine agreement was designed to benefit the poor Minardi team, not the much richer Red Bull company. However, this wore off as the season progressed, as fears over the car's potential performance advantage proved to be unfounded.

This was largely due to the year-old chassis, the torque advantage of the V10 being canceled out by traction control, and the lack of engine development and tyre testing given to the team. However, the team were generally more competitive than Midland/Spyker and Super Aguri, and Liuzzi was able to score the team's only point at Indianapolis.

Liuzzi was generally the quicker of the drivers, although Speed improved as he gained experience. Despite both gettings involved in several accidents and mistakes due to their inexperience, the STR duo both drew praise from the part-team owner Gerhard Berger for their performances.[5]

The team eventually finished ninth in the Constructors' Championship, with one point.

Sponsorship and livery

Compared to its parent team livery, the STR1 sported a darker shade of blue, with a golden-tipped nosecone. The car had a distinctive raging bull painting on its engine cover, which was designed by Austrian sculptor Jos Pirkner [nl]. and handsprayed by Knud Tiroch before each Grand Prix.[6]

The only sponsors logos present in the STR1 were from parent company Red Bull and suppliers Michelin and Cosworth.

David Coulthard driving the STR1 at Goodwood 2009
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BOSS GP

The STR1 is still actively used in the BOSS GP Series, driven by Ingo Gerstl for the Top Speed team and have won the Open Class title from 2016 to 2020 and in 2022.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points WCC
2006 Scuderia Toro Rosso Cosworth V10 M BAH MAL AUS SAN EUR ESP MON GBR CAN USA FRA GER HUN TUR ITA CHN JPN BRA 1 9th
Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi 11 11 Ret 14 Ret 15† 10 13 13 8 13 10 Ret Ret 14 10 14 13
United States Scott Speed 13 Ret 9 15 11 Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret 10 12 11 13 13 14 18† 11

† Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toro Rosso STR1.
  • Henry, Alan, ed. (2006). AUTOCOURSE 2006–2007. Crash Media Group. pp. 82–83. ISBN 1-905334-15-X.
  1. ^ Henry, Alan, ed. (2006). Autocourse 2006–2007. Crash Media Group. pp. 82–83. ISBN 1-905334-15-X.
  2. ^ "Case Study - Historic F1 Engine". cosworth.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Scuderia Toro Rosso STR1 Cosworth Specifications". F1Technical.net. 2006-07-31. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
  4. ^ "Formula 1 Past Car STR1 | SCUDERIA ALPHATAURI".
  5. ^ "Berger happy with 'rookies'". Crash.net. 2006-05-31. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  6. ^ Bellingham, Tom (2011-02-01). "Art attack: Painting the Toro Rosso Bull". WTF1. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
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