1/43 Model Review: 2009 Toyota TF109

Background

This would be the final Toyota F1 car, having been competing in F1 since 2002, the team threw a massive amount of money into it and saw little fruit for their labours. As the recession hit and a lack of sustained competitiveness, the manufacturer decided to pull out of the sport at the end of 2009. The season began quite strongly, with new rules being an opportunity to catch up with its rivals. The opening race saw Trulli end up in third and Glock in fourth after a penalty to Hamilton and a crash between Kubica and Vettel before the pair crashed out in tandem in the following corner. The first four races saw three podium places, thanks in large to its double diffuser. However the competitiveness dropped dramatically, and they only regained enough speed at Singapore and Japan to claim two more podiums. As Glock crashed out and injured himself at the Japanese GP, it allowed young Kobayashi a couple of races with the team, which impressed enough to keep him in F1 for a number of years following.

Minichamps

Minichamps 400090009

Toyota came into the sport with a huge budget, but never created a particularly competitive car. Second hand prices for Toyota models have always been readily available and cheap. That's not to say that the models are bad, this Australian GP version being another nice model from Minichamps.

Minichamps 400090110

There is quite a rare Kamui Kobayashi version of the Toyota from the season finale at the Abu Dhabi GP, Toyota's last race. Out of all the Toyota models, this is the only one to gain some value.

There are a couple of special editions around, but I've chosen to just feature two of them, the first, a Kyosho edition from the Brazilian GP and the second from the Suzuka Circuit series from Free Practice at the Japanese GP with wet tyres. The Kyosho edition has an updated rear wing endplate whilst the other late-season offerings do not.