The Toleman TG184

The Toleman TG184 was a Formula One car designed by Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds for Toleman Motorsport during the 1984 season. Powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder Hart 415T engine producing around 600 bhp, it debuted at the French Grand Prix in Dijon. Its most iconic moment came at the rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix, where rookie Ayrton Senna delivered a stunning drive from 13th on the grid to second place. Although Senna overtook Alain Prost just as the race was red-flagged, official rules placed him behind Prost based on the previous lap, denying him and Toleman their first win. The team later revealed Senna’s car had sustained suspension damage that might have ended his race within a few laps.

Senna’s performance in the TG184 signaled the arrival of a future legend. He secured additional podiums with third-place finishes at the British and Portuguese Grands Prix, the latter also marking the car’s best qualifying result. The Monaco podium was not only a breakthrough for Senna but also the first for the team that would eventually evolve into today’s Alpine F1 Team. The TG184 remains a symbol of underdog brilliance and technical ingenuity from a pivotal season in Formula One history.

Picture: By Tony Hisgett - Flickr: Senna - Toleman TG184-Hart 415T, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27074025