Pictures of your favourite Grand Prix cars, never raced.
Discussion
I thought I’d see what everyone’s favourite Grand Prix cars are, that were built, but never actually raced, with pic’s.
For a start, here’s.
Ayrton Senna in a McLaren Lamborghini V12 MP4/8B, at Estoril, in 1993.
There are loads of really interesting cars that fit the bill, so over to you.
For a start, here’s.
Ayrton Senna in a McLaren Lamborghini V12 MP4/8B, at Estoril, in 1993.
There are loads of really interesting cars that fit the bill, so over to you.
GOATever said:
I thought I’d see what everyone’s favourite Grand Prix cars are, that were built, but never actually raced, with pic’s.
For a start, here’s.
Ayrton Senna in a McLaren Lamborghini V12 MP4/8B, at Estoril, in 1993.
There are loads of really interesting cars that fit the bill, so over to you.
I'm not sure that there actually are that many genuine F1 cars that were built and not raced. The cost of developing and constructing a car must mean that few actually see the light of day.For a start, here’s.
Ayrton Senna in a McLaren Lamborghini V12 MP4/8B, at Estoril, in 1993.
There are loads of really interesting cars that fit the bill, so over to you.
However, I am aware of a couple of others that weren't mentioned by others (not necessarily favourites but were actually built).
Ferrari 312B3 spazzeneve built as a prototype of a short wheelbase concept. This version wasn't raced but Ferrari did use the 312B3 name on another car entered in 1973. However, that car was unreliable and slow and Ferrari even skipped 2 GP during the summer as they tried to work on the car.
McLaren MP4-18 built for the 2003 season but failed the FIA side impact test (twice) and suffered several odd crashes resulting in the car being abandoned. The design did form the basis of the MP4-19 for 2004.
Toyota TF101 built to allow the team to complete a year of private testing before entering F1 in 2002.
DAMS GD-01 built by DAMS in conjunction with Reynard for the 1995 season. However, the regulation changes implemented after the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna meant that the car wasn't compliant and there were insufficient funds to redesign it. Testing of the sole completed car showed it to be uncompetetive and DAMS never made it to F1.
With regard to favourite, I always loved the MP4/8 and the unliveried 8B in particular. Apparently the deciding factor for not racing the car was that the FIA awarded constructor points to the entrant using both chassis and engine (McLaren-Ford, Williams-Renault etc.). McLaren would have ended up with 2 sets of constructor points as McLaren-Ford and McLaren-Chrysler/Lamborghini. As McLaren won the last 2 GP with the Ford engine they managed to overhaul the works Benetton team for 2nd place in the WCC which vindicated Ron Dennis's decision to stick with the Ford.
ralphrj said:
I'm not sure that there actually are that many genuine F1 cars that were built and not raced. The cost of developing and constructing a car must mean that few actually see the light of day.
However, I am aware of a couple of others that weren't mentioned by others (not necessarily favourites but were actually built).
Ferrari 312B3 spazzeneve built as a prototype of a short wheelbase concept. This version wasn't raced but Ferrari did use the 312B3 name on another car entered in 1973. However, that car was unreliable and slow and Ferrari even skipped 2 GP during the summer as they tried to work on the car.
McLaren MP4-18 built for the 2003 season but failed the FIA side impact test (twice) and suffered several odd crashes resulting in the car being abandoned. The design did form the basis of the MP4-19 for 2004.
Toyota TF101 built to allow the team to complete a year of private testing before entering F1 in 2002.
DAMS GD-01 built by DAMS in conjunction with Reynard for the 1995 season. However, the regulation changes implemented after the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna meant that the car wasn't compliant and there were insufficient funds to redesign it. Testing of the sole completed car showed it to be uncompetetive and DAMS never made it to F1.
With regard to favourite, I always loved the MP4/8 and the unliveried 8B in particular. Apparently the deciding factor for not racing the car was that the FIA awarded constructor points to the entrant using both chassis and engine (McLaren-Ford, Williams-Renault etc.). McLaren would have ended up with 2 sets of constructor points as McLaren-Ford and McLaren-Chrysler/Lamborghini. As McLaren won the last 2 GP with the Ford engine they managed to overhaul the works Benetton team for 2nd place in the WCC which vindicated Ron Dennis's decision to stick with the Ford.
Great post, thank you. However, I am aware of a couple of others that weren't mentioned by others (not necessarily favourites but were actually built).
Ferrari 312B3 spazzeneve built as a prototype of a short wheelbase concept. This version wasn't raced but Ferrari did use the 312B3 name on another car entered in 1973. However, that car was unreliable and slow and Ferrari even skipped 2 GP during the summer as they tried to work on the car.
McLaren MP4-18 built for the 2003 season but failed the FIA side impact test (twice) and suffered several odd crashes resulting in the car being abandoned. The design did form the basis of the MP4-19 for 2004.
Toyota TF101 built to allow the team to complete a year of private testing before entering F1 in 2002.
DAMS GD-01 built by DAMS in conjunction with Reynard for the 1995 season. However, the regulation changes implemented after the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna meant that the car wasn't compliant and there were insufficient funds to redesign it. Testing of the sole completed car showed it to be uncompetetive and DAMS never made it to F1.
With regard to favourite, I always loved the MP4/8 and the unliveried 8B in particular. Apparently the deciding factor for not racing the car was that the FIA awarded constructor points to the entrant using both chassis and engine (McLaren-Ford, Williams-Renault etc.). McLaren would have ended up with 2 sets of constructor points as McLaren-Ford and McLaren-Chrysler/Lamborghini. As McLaren won the last 2 GP with the Ford engine they managed to overhaul the works Benetton team for 2nd place in the WCC which vindicated Ron Dennis's decision to stick with the Ford.
Excellent thread too!
yoshisdad said:
If memory serves right, I think Ferrari made an Indy racing car. Think it was to force the FIA to change it's mind about something....
I don't think it was raced.
(Yes, I know the title states 'Grand Prix Cars' but I thought it worth a mention)
Your memory serves you well. Enzo Ferrari was unhappy with the plans for the new naturally aspirated F1 engines to be restricted to V8 only.I don't think it was raced.
(Yes, I know the title states 'Grand Prix Cars' but I thought it worth a mention)
Ferrari developed the 637 in secret together with a 2.65 litre turbo engine.
How serious Ferrari actually were is debated. The FIA relented and the new engine formula allowed the V12 configuration that Enzo wanted.
The car was kept secret for many years but it has now been restored and is on display in the museum at Maranello.
ralphrj said:
Ferrari weren't the only F1 team to have a look at Indycar during the 1980s.
Lotus designed and built the 96T with the intention of racing in America but were put off but the lack of interest/open hostility to their entry.
I didn't know that. Thank you.Lotus designed and built the 96T with the intention of racing in America but were put off but the lack of interest/open hostility to their entry.
That Lotus looks super fast, stood still.
I had a look to see what became of the BT46B 'fan car' after it was deemed illegal (deemed illegal to cheat massively..).
They made one final version of the same series of car, this is the BT46C:
Apparently it was so poor that despite running in Practice at the the Austrian GP, it did not enter the race, and was never used again. So it never 'raced'.
They made one final version of the same series of car, this is the BT46C:
Apparently it was so poor that despite running in Practice at the the Austrian GP, it did not enter the race, and was never used again. So it never 'raced'.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff