Toleman

**Toleman Motorsport** (generally referred to as just Toleman) were a Formula 1.5 team and constructor based in the United Kingdom. The team competed in various levels of junior formulae before making the jump to F1.5, which saw them active from 1981 to 1985. At the end of the 1985 season, the team were purchased by clothing brand Benetton and renamed to Benetton Formula.

## History

### Background

Toleman Motorsport's origins are rooted in a business of a similar name (known only as Toleman). Founded in 1926, the company delivered Ford motor cars from its official factory for decades until 1966, when Ted Toleman inherited the company from his deceased father Albert. Soon after, Ted and compatriot Alex Hawkridge would begin involvement in various levels of British formula racing, founding Toleman Motorsport. By 1977 they had entered in British Formula Ford 2000 and in 1978 opened up an operation in British Formula Two - eventually expanding to win the 1980 European Formula Two Championship as they finished 1st and 2nd with drivers Brian Henton and Derek Warwick.

### 1981 Season - F1.5 Debut

After their strong results in lower formulae, Toleman decided to make the jump to F1.5, hiring their Formula Two championship team of Henton and Warwick to drive the full season. The team used a turbocharged version of their Hart F2 engines and even got their old designer Rory Byrne to design their chassis, the Toleman TG181. Unfortunately, the TG181 was bulky and lacked power, and despite entering all races in the '81 season neither Henton nor Warwick managed to qualify for a Grand Prix until the Italian Grand Prix, which Henton qualified for. The Brit finished 5th to score the team's first Formula 1.5 points. Toleman wouldn't make another race until the penultimate round of the season at Caesar's Palace, in which Warwick would qualify but retired on lap 43 from a gearbox failure. The team finished the season on 2 points.

### 1982 Season

In 1982, the team came with an updated TG181C chassis and a new driver in rookie Teo Fabi, who was replacing Brian Henton as the latter departed for Tyrrell. Unfortunately, the 1982 campaign showed virtually zero improvement - despite managing to qualify for most of the season both drivers struggled to finish races, with their only finishes being two 7th places from Derek Warwick. However, the second half of the season showed some improvement with the introduction of the carbon-composite TG183 chassis. Toleman finished a disappointing season with no points scored.

### 1983 Season - Milestone campaign and first win

The 1983 season saw another new chassis, with the updated TG183B being utilised for the entire season. Fabi had already been booted from the team, being replaced by the more experienced Bruno Giacomelli. The significantly improved TG183B garnered major improvements for the team, with both drivers qualifying for all races but one. The first half of '83 looked promising, with Warwick scoring a 4th place in Brazil and 3rd at Belgium, taking both his and the team's first podium. Giacomelli also had two points finishes at this time - however, the real results would come at season's end. Derek went on a tear in the last four races - taking a jubilant win at the Dutch Grand Prix for Toleman's first F1.5 victory - followed up by three consecutive podiums to finish a brilliant 4th in the final standings. Toleman finished P4 in the Constructors' Championship on 43 points for their best season yet.

### 1984 Season- Championship contention

After the strong success of the 1983 season, the team looked to continue improving. Their driver lineup would change completely - Warwick was promoted to F1, being replaced by British Formula 3 champion Ayrton Senna, and Giacomelli was booted in favour of Venezuelan driver Johnny Cecotto. Immediately it was obvious that Senna was a brilliant talent, having scored two podiums by the third race of the season, although the TG184 was unreliable (much like the rest of the grid) and suffered multiple mechanical failures. Despite this the Brazilian continued to perform spectacularly, taking his first win at a rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix and another the very next race at Montreal as he shot into the championship battle. Cecotto would also score a podium at Canada, his first points of the season in a hellish campaign. At the British GP Senna would take another win, but Cecotto was involved in a horrific practice crash that broke both his legs to end his F1.5 career. Following the race Senna held the championship lead over contender Keke Rosberg, but three straight retirements and a P2 for Rosberg allowed the Finn to seize the lead with just 3 races remaining. Unfortunately, the Toleman continued to be taken out by mechanical failures and was unable to finish the European Grand Prix, granting Rosberg the title. Senna won the final race of the season, a bittersweet victory to cap off an astounding campaign for both team and driver. Toleman finished 3rd in the Constructors' Championship on 54.5 points, their best-ever result in yet another strong performance.

### 1985 Season

Toleman barely made it to the 1985 season, having been involved in a lengthy dispute regarding tyre suppliers over the off-season. In 1984 they had severed ties with Pirelli early on, instead using Michelin tyres for the rest of the campaign (Goodyear were unavailable as the team had been involved in a similar dispute with them in Formula 2). However, following the departure of Michelin from the sport the end of 1984, it did not appear the team would find a supplier for '85. Toleman did not participate in the first 3 Grands Prix of the season and only began to compete when new major sponsor Benetton, who had bought out Spirit Racing, utilised their Pirelli contract under Toleman's name. With Senna departing to F1 and Cecotto not an option, former driver Fabi was re-hired alongside Piercarlo Ghinzani. Having abruptly entered partway through the season, the team's results were torrid, with Fabi the only driver to finish a race (and no higher than P12). The team's progression had come full circle as they ended up with zero points to end their stint in Formula 1.5.

### Purchase

Over the 1985/86 off-season, Toleman were purchased by their flagship sponsor Benetton Group to become Benetton Formula. Benetton competed for several decades in F1.5, winning a multitude of titles and even being promoted to F1 at one point, before they were sold to Renault in 2000. In the current day, Toleman still live on as the spiritual predecessor of Alpine, which was renamed from Renault for the 2021 season.