Toleman is one of those teams that, despite never winning a Grand Prix, holds a special place in Formula 1 history. Founded in 1926 by Edward Toleman as a transport company, it originally handled the transportation of Ford vehicles across the UK. It wasn't until the 1970s that the company began transforming into a motorsport outfit, thanks to the passion of Edward’s sons, Ted and Bob. In 1976, together with businessman Alex Hawkridge, the Toleman Group Motorsport was established, initially competing in Formula Ford and touring car races. A young and talented Rory Byrne was appointed as technical director, a man who would later become a legendary designer, responsible for the championship-winning Ferraris driven by Michael Schumacher. In 1977, Bob Toleman tragically died in a crash at Snetterton, but his brother Ted and Hawkridge chose to continue the project in his honor.
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| TOLEMAN TG181, Derek Warwick Montréal, Canadian GP 1981 |
In 1978, the team debuted in Formula 2, and by 1980, with the Toleman TG280-Hart, designed by Byrne and powered by Brian Hart engines, they achieved outstanding results: British drivers Brian Henton and Derek Warwick dominated the European season, finishing first and second in the championship. The team’s growth was so fast and solid that a move to Formula 1 became inevitable. The political turmoil of the time, namely the famous FISA-FOCA war, presented the perfect opportunity: Toleman sided with Jean-Marie Balestre’s FISA, a decision that went against the grain for most British teams but gave the team easier access to the 1981 World Championship.
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| TOLEMAN TG181, Derek Warwick Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1981 |
The Toleman TG181, created by Byrne with support from John Gentry and Pat Symonds (future technical director at Benetton and Williams), was heavily based on their F2 car: carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, advanced suspension (pull-rod front, push-rod rear), and a 1.5-liter Hart 415T turbo engine. However, the lack of time and resources took its toll: the TG181 was heavy (645 kg), unreliable, with an underdeveloped engine and radial Pirelli tires making a comeback to F1 after decades away.
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| TOLEMAN TG181, Brian Henton Montréal, Canadian GP 1981 |
The results were disastrous: Henton and Warwick failed to qualify for nearly every race. Only at Monza did Henton make it onto the grid, finishing in tenth place. The British press, critical of the team's political stance, mockingly dubbed the car the “Flying Pig”, an unflattering nickname that nonetheless became part of F1 folklore.
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| TOLEMAN TG181, Brian Henton Silverstone, British GP 1981 |
Despite the rocky start, Toleman would go on to leave a lasting mark: in 1984, they would field a young Brazilian named Ayrton Senna, launching the career of one of the greatest drivers of all time.
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