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The TF109 was the last F1 car to run on Esso fuel along with the Williams FW31 until the McLaren MP4-30 in the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship, as well as last non-British based F1 car to run on Esso until Toro Rosso STR12 in the 2017 season. The car from then on was uncompetitive despite a few glimmers of hope in Singapore when Timo Glock finished 2nd and Japan when Jarno Trulli also finished second. In the span of only two races however, the TF109 went from locking out the front row in Bahrain to locking out the back row in Monaco. It started the season well with three podium finishes in the first four races as it got the jump on rival teams with the "double-decker" diffuser. As far as performance went, the car was extraordinarily inconsistent. This was the last Formula One car to be developed by Toyota, as after the 2009 Formula One season was completed Toyota Motor Corporation announced their decision to withdraw from Formula One. It was revealed online on Toyota's website on 15 January 2009 and made its track debut on 18 January at the Autódromo Algarve. The chassis was designed by Pascal Vasselon, Mark Tatham and Mark Gillan with the engine being designed by Luca Marmorini and Noritoshi Arai overseeing the entire project. Certainly, a strong rear diffuser design would have allowed the Toyota F1 team to push its rivals to the limit. The car was rumored to feature a ‘rear-F-duct’ as part of one of the most extreme rear diffusers of its time. The Toyota TF109 was a Formula One racing car engineered by Toyota for the 2009 Formula One season. The Toyota TF110 was designed by Pascal Vasselon, the Toyota Senior General Manager Chassis at that time.
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