Toleman Group Motorsport entered the 1984 season using the same car as in 1983 but with a new driver lineup. They signed Venezuelan former motorcycle world champion Johnny Cecotto and an emerging Brazilian talent who had impressed in British Formula 3, Ayrton Senna. In the first four races, with both drivers using the old TG183B, the pecking order became clear: Senna scored two points finishes while Cecotto only had retirements.
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| TOLEMAN TG184, Ayrton Senna Zandvoort, Dutch GP 1984 |
Later in the season, Toleman introduced what would become their most iconic car among fans: the legendary TG184, the car that unveiled Senna's talent to the world. Designed by Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds, it retained the turbocharged Hart 415T engine and the TG183B chassis, albeit with revised pull-rod front suspension and repositioned radiators now placed in the sidepods instead of the bulky front wing. The car also retained its signature twin rear wings and more streamlined nose with side winglets.
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| TOLEMAN TG184, Johnny Cecotto Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1984 |
Built on a tight budget, the TG184 was fully developed only by May but immediately showed strong potential, amplified by Senna’s brilliance. He scored two more podiums in the second half of the season. Most notably, at the rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix, he was denied a likely victory when the race was prematurely red-flagged just as he was closing in on leader Alain Prost, driving a McLaren powered by Porsche, the same company for which race director Jacky Ickx raced in endurance events.
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| TOLEMAN TG184, Stefan Johansson Monza, Italian GP 1984 |
At the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, Cecotto suffered a career-ending crash, casting a shadow over the team’s otherwise impressive season, which ended with Toleman seventh in the standings with 16 points. Besides Senna and Cecotto, the TG184 was also driven by Sweden's Stefan Johansson (who replaced Cecotto after his accident) and Italy’s Pierluigi Martini, who subbed for Senna at the Italian GP at the behest of sponsor Candy. Just before Monza, when Senna announced his move to Lotus, team leaders Ted Toleman and Alex Hawkridge realized that the team's peak had likely been reached.
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| TOLEMAN TG184, Ayrton Senna Detroit, USA East GP 1984 |
To progress further, the small team would need investment beyond its means. Thus, during the 1984–1985 winter, they decided to sell the team structure to Italian clothing company Benetton, which was already heavily involved in sports sponsorship. The three podium finishes in 1984 marked the high point of Toleman’s brief Formula 1 journey.
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