Toro Rosso: STR4 Not Similar to RB5

Toro Rosso have played down reports that their newly-launched STR4 car is simply a slightly-revised copy of Red Bull's RB5. The team's technical director Giorgio Ascanelli insisted that only the basics of the car remained unchanged as compared to the RB5, while the rest of it – even if developed by the same Red Bull Technology – was designed to suit their engine & drivers particularities.

As last year, Toro Rosso will benefit from Ferrari power plants in 2009, while the Red Bull RB5 will incorporate Renault engines – while also their Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Ascanelli revealed some extra elements that makes the STR4 package different to the one used by the RB5.

“The packaging revolves around an engine and peculiarities from the drivers and, as we run a different engine to our sister team, it involves a different fuel system and fuel tank. Therefore, ours is completely different to the Red Bull Racing car and is designed here by us,” said Ascanelli.

“The same goes for the water and oil systems linked to the engine. Different engines have different heat rejection and different operating temperatures, with materials specified to different levels.”

“The clutch installation is completely different between the two cars. In fact, the clutch itself is very different and the work of installing clutch and gearbox is also completely done in Faenza, involving a casing designed in Faenza and using completely different technology to the one Red Bull Technology provides to Red Bull Racing. The same goes for the oil and water radiators and the entire hydraulic and electronic systems,” insisted the Toro Rosso technical.

Regardless of the similarities between the two cars, Toro Rosso will need to find a way to build their own chassis in 2010, as this is the last season in which the FIA allows “customer cars” in F1. The team is currently making use of the design provided by Red Bull Technology, which supplies Red Bull Racing with their F1 chassis.