95 - 02 F1 Tech
Discussion
This is a fascinating thread... and it's quite amazing that it's still possible to keep these bespoke machines, built out of obsolete bleeding-edge technology, running.
I guess the pull of owning an actual F1 car must be pretty strong for some people, as I'd have thought that you could go as quickly, and for less money, in a more modern "off the shelf" single seater ?
outnumbered said:
This is a fascinating thread... and it's quite amazing that it's still possible to keep these bespoke machines, built out of obsolete bleeding-edge technology, running.
With enough budget, stubbornness, refusal to admit defeat and a team of people who are quite honestly the most amazing bunch to work with there is you can keep anything going 
outnumbered said:
I guess the pull of owning an actual F1 car must be pretty strong for some people, as I'd have thought that you could go as quickly, and for less money, in a more modern "off the shelf" single seater ?
Not really, some things are as quick through a corner, somethings are as quick on a straight but even a late 90's car is a bloomin rapid bit of kit. Current GP2 cars are as quick as our F1s but that's 1.5 million for a seat minimum. World Series cars are a step down from there and again better aero than our stuff but no where near the poke. They are realistically the fastest things out there you can own privately. An F1 car is as a rule of thumb a decade ahead of "accessible" race technology so even when you stick a 2001 car in 2014 it doesn't really "feel" out of date poppopbangbang said:
If you think running these cars is quite a glamorous and exciting thing then imagine being the poor bugger who has to measure and grade all the used brake discs for this season....
At a couple of grand a pop you want to make sure you get all the life there is out of them!
PPBB, fantastic thread, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
At a couple of grand a pop you want to make sure you get all the life there is out of them!
I'd be interested (as I'm sure others would be) in having an old/spent brake disc, what happens to them once you've extracted all the life you can from them? If they're disposed of is there any chance I could have/buy one?
Thanks
Hugh
HughG said:
poppopbangbang said:
If you think running these cars is quite a glamorous and exciting thing then imagine being the poor bugger who has to measure and grade all the used brake discs for this season....
At a couple of grand a pop you want to make sure you get all the life there is out of them!
PPBB, fantastic thread, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.At a couple of grand a pop you want to make sure you get all the life there is out of them!
I'd be interested (as I'm sure others would be) in having an old/spent brake disc, what happens to them once you've extracted all the life you can from them? If they're disposed of is there any chance I could have/buy one?
Thanks
Hugh
poppopbangbang said:
Bossman says tenner a disc + postage for a fluffed disc. All proceeds to the tea/coffee/strippers staff fund
That's a couple of birthday presents sorted then.Are they all the same, or would it be possible to spec an ex-minardi disc or an ex BAR disc?
If it is possible to specify, what is the list of cars you guys run?
poppopbangbang said:
Not really, some things are as quick through a corner, somethings are as quick on a straight but even a late 90's car is a bloomin rapid bit of kit. Current GP2 cars are as quick as our F1s but that's 1.5 million for a seat minimum. World Series cars are a step down from there and again better aero than our stuff but no where near the poke. They are realistically the fastest things out there you can own privately. An F1 car is as a rule of thumb a decade ahead of "accessible" race technology so even when you stick a 2001 car in 2014 it doesn't really "feel" out of date
small correction the latest WSBR car is faster around the bendy bits now than a GP2 just more draggy and 80 bhp down. Now renault have updated the aero and gave it more power the wishbone are cracking a lot quicker. Whats pretty unheard of on a modern single make series especially dallara'sGreat thread OP the most modern F1 car i've worked on is a 91 Bennerton lovely piece of kit.
Edited by willthisnamework on Tuesday 21st January 21:01
willthisnamework said:
small correction the latest WSBR car is faster around the bendy bits now than a GP2 just more draggy and 80 bhp down. Now renault have updated the aero and gave it more power the wishbone are cracking a lot quicker. Whats pretty unheard of on a modern single make series especially dallara's
2013 GP2 Fastest Qualy laptime at Spa (Dry)- 1:56.957.2013 WSBR Fastest Qualy laptime at Spa (Dry) - 1:58.428
And like you say 80bhp down and more draggy. I'm sticking with my statement they're a step down from a GP2 car
For comparison 2000 Minardi M02 at old Spa (shorter start/finish straight mainly compared to new Spa with an overall track length of 4.3179 miles vs new Spas 4.351 miles) qualifying time 1:54.680. The old girls are still quick
Justaredbadge said:
That's a couple of birthday presents sorted then.
Are they all the same, or would it be possible to spec an ex-minardi disc or an ex BAR disc?
If it is possible to specify, what is the list of cars you guys run?
IIRC there are only three manufacturers of discs; Hitco, Carbon Industries and Brembo; so the team that used it is largely irrelevant.Are they all the same, or would it be possible to spec an ex-minardi disc or an ex BAR disc?
If it is possible to specify, what is the list of cars you guys run?
an interesting point of reference is that Lotus sell a single seater called the T125 which uses a 650Bhp 10,00 rpm V8 and makes about 1/2 a ton of downforce with simple and large diffuser and wings
it is in essence an early 90's F1 car just modern version of one
when lotus were testing it in Bahrain at the same time as the Lotus current era F1 car and the laptime was about 1.5 to 2 seconds in favour of the current machine and this is bearing in mind that the T125 is on off the shelf Avon slicks compared to the F1 tyre
it is in essence an early 90's F1 car just modern version of one
when lotus were testing it in Bahrain at the same time as the Lotus current era F1 car and the laptime was about 1.5 to 2 seconds in favour of the current machine and this is bearing in mind that the T125 is on off the shelf Avon slicks compared to the F1 tyre
350Matt said:
an interesting point of reference is that Lotus sell a single seater called the T125 which uses a 650Bhp 10,00 rpm V8 and makes about 1/2 a ton of downforce with simple and large diffuser and wings
it is in essence an early 90's F1 car just modern version of one
when lotus were testing it in Bahrain at the same time as the Lotus current era F1 car and the laptime was about 1.5 to 2 seconds in favour of the current machine and this is bearing in mind that the T125 is on off the shelf Avon slicks compared to the F1 tyre
doesn't that have some (shhh) Lola A1gp dna in it...?it is in essence an early 90's F1 car just modern version of one
when lotus were testing it in Bahrain at the same time as the Lotus current era F1 car and the laptime was about 1.5 to 2 seconds in favour of the current machine and this is bearing in mind that the T125 is on off the shelf Avon slicks compared to the F1 tyre
nsa said:
Is there any way to compare lap times between the front running 95-02 era cars and the current ones? I think a previous post said potential 1.5-2.0 seconds at Bahrain, which is much less than I expected.
Are any tracks completely unchanged since then? Monza might be a good comparison - Autosport archives may have the sector times, and the speed traps times going back for those races. Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff