Launch – Toro Rosso finally unveils the STR4

This morning around 9am, Scuderia Toro Rosso unveiled its new car for the 2009 season: the STR4. The team is present at the Circuit de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain) with Sébastien Bourdais and Sébastien Buemi. The French-speaking duo had already tested the Italian car behind closed doors last week.

For the anecdote, Toro Rosso ironically unveiled photos of its STR4 on its Media site last Tuesday already, publishing satellite images of the Adria circuit…

Toro Rosso has so far been cautious about the launch of its new car. Secret tests last week and a very modest presentation this morning in Spain indicate a certain apprehension. The STR4, the fourth edition of Scuderia Toro Rosso, looks strikingly similar to the parent company’s Red Bull, the RB5; the shapes are almost identical and the paint differentiates them less than in previous seasons.

The team, powered for another year by the Ferrari V8, was able to test the STR4 in Adria last week without any comment. Bourdais and Buemi will test this new machine today and over the next two weeks in Barcelona and Jerez, in order to make up for the “lost” time with the old single-seater.

In 2008, the small Scuderia made an impression by achieving a victory in Italy and securing 6th place in the Constructors’ standings. Despite the current form of the RB5, Toro Rosso’s team principal, Franz Tost, remained cautious: « The 2008 season was good in terms of on-track performance, I would even say that we exceeded our expectations. Therefore, it will be difficult to do better this year. »

« For this, my goal this season will be to leave every track with the feeling that we have done our best. »

Tost does not want to sell the bear’s skin either but admits that Newey has done a promising job with the Red Bull, thus inevitably linking the STR4 to the RB5: « The RB5 tested at Jerez seems to have impressed. Adrian Newey has done a good job and the RB5 seems to have a promising package. »

As for the drivers, it is unnecessary to mention that Bourdais and Buemi will be in the seats No. 11 and 12. The latter replacing Vettel, who has left for Red Bull Racing.

Bourdais drives the STR4 today and tomorrow. Buemi will take the wheel the following two days.

Photos of the launch are available by clicking on the album next to it.