Tost imposes 24/7 shift on Toro Rosso workforce

Scuderia Toro Rosso is pulling out all the stops in order to have its 2016 car ready for pre-season testing which starts at Circuit de Catalunya on February 22.

The Faenza outfit's manufacturing process for its 2016 car was hampered by the long delay suffered by Red Bull in announcing its engine plans for next year, a predicament which temporarily rendered uncertain both team's presence on the grid next season.

With Red Bull's power unit issues now resolved, Toro Rosso is once again moving ahead with its own agenda, having implemented a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week working schedule to bridge the manufacturing gap induced by the senior team's own delay.

"We re-planned the manufacturing processes and decided to go for a three-shift, across seven days, 24 hours to be ready for the first test," team boss Franz Tost told Autosport.

"From Toro Rosso's side, we can organise everything in the best possible way. Our main problem is other suppliers and their Christmas holidays.
"Most of them are closed for a minimum of 10 days and this will make it tough for us."

Tost stressed that it is the first time such a tight and round-the-clock schedule has been imposed upon the Italian.

"We've never had to enforce a 24-hour a day shift pattern for this long before. In February, the last days before you finish the car, you sometimes have those days but it's maybe normal for only one or two days.

"But we will have this system in place now for December, January and half of February, so two and a half months. We have brought in a high number of contractors just for this short period to do this."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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