Difference between revisions of "Ferrari 126C"

Latest revision as of 14:02, 6 November 2009

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Ferrari 126 C

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+#redirect [[Ferrari 126 C]]
-{{Racing car |
-  Car_name         = Ferrari 126C |
-  Logo             = [[Image:Scuderia Ferrari Logo.png|75px]] |
-  Category         = [[Formula One]] |
-  Constructor      = [[Scuderia Ferrari]] |
-  Designer         = [[Mauro Forghieri]]<br>[[Harvey Postlethwaite]] |
-  Team             = [[Scuderia Ferrari]] |
-  Drivers          = 27. [[Gilles Villeneuve]], [[Patrick Tambay]], [[Michele Alboreto]] <br> 28. [[Didier Pironi]], [[Mario Andretti]], [[Rene Arnoux]] |
-  Chassis          = [[carbon-fibre]] and aluminium honeycomb composite [[monocoque]] structure  |
-  Front suspension = [[Double wishbone suspension|Double wishbone]], inboard [[Spring (device)|spring]]/[[shock absorber|damper]]. |
-  Rear suspension  = [[Double wishbone suspension]]|
-  Engine name      = [[Ferrari]] 031 |
-  Capacity         = 1500[[cubic centimetre|cc]] |
-  Configuration    = 120-degree [[V6]], |
-  Turbo/NA         = [[turbo]], |
-  Engine position  = [[mid-engine]], [[longitudinal engine| longitudinally mounted]] |
-  Gearbox name     =  |
-  Gears            = 6-speed sequential transverse gearbox|
-  Type             = [[Manual transmission|manual]] |
-  Differential     =  |
-  Fuel             =  [[Agip]]|
-  Tyres            = [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] |
-  Debut            = [[1981 Argentine Grand Prix]] |
-  Races            =  59 |
-  Wins             = 10 |
-  Cons_champ       = '''2''' ([[1982 Formula One season|1982]],[[1983 Formula One season|1983]])|
-  Drivers_champ    = '''0'''|
-  Poles            = 10 |
-  Fastest_laps     = 12 |
-}}
-The '''Ferrari 126C''' was [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]'s first attempt at a [[turbo]] engined Formula 1 car. It was designed by [[Mauro Forghieri]] and [[Harvey Postlethwaite]] and used between the [[1981 Formula One season|1981 season]] and [[1984 Formula One season|1984 season]] seasons.
-<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Ferrari_126c2.jpg|300px|right|Ferrari 126C2 driven by [[Gilles Villeneuve]]]] -->
-== Development and race history ==
-The Ferrari 126C was designed to replace the highly successful but obsolete [[Ferrari 312T|312T]] series in use since 1975. The basic chassis was almost identical to the previous car but the smaller [[V6]] [[turbo]] engine suited the [[ground effect in cars|ground effect]] aerodynamics now needed to be competitive, and was a better package overall. The engine was fitted with twin [[AG Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch|KKK]] turbochargers and produced around 600bhp in qualifying trim, detuned to 550bhp for the races proper. The car proved to be very fast but [[Gilles Villeneuve]] found the handling to be atrocious. The engine had massive [[turbo lag]], followed by a ferocious power curve; this upset the balance of the chassis. Coupled to the chassis' hard suspension, the car tended to slide into corners before the ground effect pulled the car back on to the track. This had the undesired effects of exposing the drivers to even larger g-forces than the [[Williams FW07]] or [[Brabham BT49]] and making the car tend to overuse its tyres. In all it made for a very tricky driving experience.
-The car was first tested during the [[Italian Grand Prix]] in 1980. In testing it proved far faster than the 312T5 chassis the team were then using and [[Gilles Villeneuve]] preferred it, though he had reservations about the handling. Early unreliabity of the turbo engine put paid to Villeneuve's 1981 championship hopes but he did score back to back victories in [[Monaco]] and [[Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]], as well as several podium places. Because of the problematic handling the 126C was at its best on fast tracks such as [[Hockenheim]], [[Silverstone]], [[Monza]] and the [[Österreichring]].
-With the arrival of Harvey Poselthwaite and a complete overhaul of the car in time for the [[1982]] season, things looked better. The turbo engine was further developed and reliability found, while the chassis was completely redesigned, featuring Ferrari's first genuine full monocoque chassis. Smaller and nimbler, the 126C2 handled far better than its predecessor. Villeneuve and [[Didier Pironi]] posted record times in testing with the new car and began the season promisingly with several solid results. Then came the infamous race at [[San Marino Grand Prix|San Marino]] where Pironi disobeyed team orders and stole the win from Villeneuve. The fallout from the race led to Villeneuve's tragic death in an horrific accident during qualifying at the next round in [[Belgian Grand Prix|Belgium]], which left Pironi as team leader. Pironi himself was nearly killed in a similar accident in [[Germany]], putting an end to his motor racing career, but this didn't stop Ferrari from winning the constructors' championship that year. The 126C2 was further developed during the season, with new wings and bodywork tried, and the engine's power boosted to 650bhp in qualifying trim and around 600bhp in races.
-Mandatory flat bottoms for the cars were introduced for 1983, reducing ground effect, and the 126C3 was designed with this in mind. Poselthwaite designed an oversized but effective rear wing which clawed back around 50% of the lost downforce, whilst further compensation came from the engineers who boosted the power of the engine even further, to around 700bhp. [[Patrick Tambay]] and [[René Arnoux]] scored four wins between them and were both in contention for the world championship throughout [[1983]] but late unreliability cost them both. However, Ferrari took the constructors' title for the second year in a row.
-The [[1984 Formula One season|1984 season]] season wasn't as successful, as [[Team McLaren|McLaren]] introduced their extremely successful [[McLaren MP4/2|MP4/2]] car, which was far more effective than the 126C4 and dominated the year. [[Michele Alboreto]] won just once and Ferrari finished as runner up in the constructors' championship.
-The 126C series cars won 10 races, took 10 pole positions and scored 260.5 points.
-{{F1 cars 1981}}
-{{F1 cars 1982}}
-{{F1 cars 1983}}
-{{F1 cars 1984}}
-{{Ferrari Formula 1 cars}}
-[[Category:Ferrari Formula One cars|126C]]
-[[Category:1981 Formula One season cars]]
-[[Category:1983 Formula One season cars]]
-[[Category:1984 Formula One season cars]]

Difference between revisions of "Ferrari 126C"

Latest revision as of 14:02, 6 November 2009

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