Photo: Token RJ02 at Goodwood Members' Meeting 2015 by In Vitrio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Token RJ02 at Goodwood Members’ Meeting 2015 by In Vitrio, CC BY-SA 4.0 – Source: Wikimedia Commons
Token Racing is not the only team to compete in 1974 and fail, but its brief F1 run is still remembered.
The reason behind it is that they were the team that gave Tom Pryce a chance, a driver history still remembers as the Welsh fastest man.
However, many outfits appeared briefly, struggling with limited budgets and fierce competition.
Token Racing was one of these teams, emerging from the remains of a successful Formula 2 squad with big dreams but little financial backing.
Token Racing: Short time in F1
British Formula 1 team that had a fleeting presence in the 1974 season, the team was born from the remains of the successful Rondel Racing Formula 2 team.
After Rondel lost its main sponsor, Token wanted to carry forward the ambition but with limited resources.
However, Token Racing team was established by Tony Vlassopulos, a Greek shipping magnate, and Ken Grob, a British Insurance broker.
The team’s name, Token , was a clever blend of their first names, Tony and Ken, combining ‘TO’ from Tony and ‘KEN’ from Ken.
The man who spent his whole life in F1, Ron Dennis, who co-founded Rondel, moved on to manage a different F2 project.
What Token Racing team did, they kept designer Ray Jessop and technical director Neil Trundle, with the aim to success in Formula 1.
The most popular engine choice of that era was Ford Cosworth DFV engine, Token was powered by the same engine.
Token Racing made its championship debut at the Belgian Grand Prix, with Tom Pryce behind the wheel.
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Despite showing promise, Token faced financial difficulties and a lack of sponsorship.
They were barred from entering the Monaco GP, allegedly due to Pryce’s limited experience, which prompted the young driver to leave for Shadow Racing Cars.
They were barred from entering the Monaco Grand Prix, allegedly due to Pryce’s limited experience, which prompted the young driver to leave for Shadow Racing Cars.
After competing in just four races, the team closed down following the Austrian GP
While Token never scored championship points or achieved podium finishes, it played a crucial role in launching Tom Pryce’s career, a driver who would go on to leave a significant mark in F1.
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More about Token-Ford
After the team ran out of money, the lone chassis was picked up by Safir engineering.
They gave it a new identity and continued to run it in a handful of non-championship outings during 1975, with Tony Trimmer taking the wheel.
After that brief revival, the car quietly vanished from the racing scene.
Although Tom Pryce is usually the name people connect with Token, he was not the only one who tried to extract something from the underfunded team.
When Pryce moved on, Ian Ashley stepped in for the German GP, bringing the car home in 14th.
David Purley also had a short spell with Token, altough his attempt to qualify ultimately came up short and never turned into a race start.
Yet the most enduring part of Token’s brief F1 life is tied with Tom Pryce.
For him, the team served as an unexpected doorway into the sport.
At Shadow, Pryce started to show his true potential, scoring points in his rookie season.
Tom Pryce talent continued to shine with two podiums and appearances and a victory in the 1975 Race of Champions, a prestigious non-championship event.
Tom Pryce loss remains one of the most painful chapters in history, and Token’s role in giving him a starting platform is part of what keeps the team remembered today.
