Dino Toso | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dino Vittorio Marcellinus Toso (1969-02-11)11 February 1969 |
| Died | August 13, 2008(2008-08-13) (aged 39) |
| Known for | Director of Aerodynamic Technology, Renault F1 Team |
| Spouse | Nathalie Toso |
| Children | 1 |
Dino Vittorio Marcellinus Toso (11 February 1969 – 13 August 2008)[1] was anItalian-Dutch engineer who worked as theRenaultFormula One team's Director of Aerodynamics from2003 until June2008.
Toso studied automotive design and electronics atApeldoorn Technical College, followed by a degree in automotive engineering. He then obtained his master's degree in aerodynamics and flight atCranfield University in the UK.[2] He worked atNLR - Netherlands Aerospace Centre until 1995, when he was recruited byBMW for itsGT racing programme. In1997 he moved to theJordan F1 team, where he worked as arace engineer. His time at Jordan included its first win at the1998 Belgian Grand Prix, where he engineered driverDamon Hill's victorious car.[3] For the 2000 season, Toso wasJarno Trulli's race engineer. The pair would later reunite at Renault.[4][5]
For2001 he followed former Jordan colleagueMike Gascoyne toBenetton, which had been sold to Renault the previous year and was rebranded as such in2002. At the end of2003 he replaced the departingJohn Iley as Chief Aerodynamicist. He oversaw Jarno Trulli's only Grand Prix victory in2004, before being part of the team that developed theR25 andR26 which won back to back Drivers and Constructors Championships.[6][7][8] The team won seventeen Grands Prix during his tenure, fourteen forFernando Alonso, two forGiancarlo Fisichella and one for Jarno Trulli. In June 2008, Toso stepped down and retired from his role due to ill health.[3][5][9]
Toso was married to Nathalie, and had a daughter Isabella.[1] Toso was diagnosed withcancer in 2004. He continued to work whilst receiving treatment, but the illness was terminal. In August 2008, two months after retiring, he died at home at the age of 39.[3][10][11] Former colleagues includingFlavio Briatore,Eddie Jordan andDamon Hill attended his funeral.[12]
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