In the Autumn of 1993 a lot was going on in the Formula One. McLaren was looking for a new engine supplier per 1994 and started negotiating with Lamborghini to become their supplier. The same time Larrousse was chasing down a contract with Peugeot, who came with their new F1 engine, to become a 100% French team. Yet, McLaren ditched the Lamborghini engines and signed the deal with Peugeot as their supplier from 1994 onwards. As a result Chrysler sold their brand Lamborghini to the Indonesian based Megatech company. Larrousse was still without an engine for 1994 and Lamborghini Engineering was sure they would supply Larrousse the next season with their engines.
Time to explore this interesting story which involved McLaren, Larrousse and even Footwork on the side note. While Lamborghini, Peugeot and Ford and involved as engine suppliers. Because, a lot was going on that field and the end result would be McLaren ditching Peugeot, Lamborghini leaving the sport and Larrousse unable to appear on the grid in 1995.
In September 1993, McLaren started developing a “new” car which would adapt the Lamborghini V12 engine. Why did they do so? Because the team was looking for a new engine from 1994 onwards. Lamborghini, at that time supplier for Larrousse, was in contact with McLaren and both came to somewhat of a agreement. Within 40 days McLaren constructed their MP4/8B which was suitable to fit the Larrousse V12 engine. In early September, in all secret, Ayrton Senna tested with the white MP4/8B fitted with the Lambo V12 engine at Pembrey before he tested two day at Estoril in late September that year. Mika tested with the MP4/8B as well. Eventually the car was 1,5 second faster than the pole time for the 1993 British Grand Prix.
While the results were promising, and Ayrton Senna was to sign with McLaren for 1994 the team decided different. Ron Dennis announced in October 1993 that the team would race in 1994 with the new Peugeot Engines. The same engines the Larrousse teams was chasing for as well. Gerard Larrousse believed that he could get the engines and become so an all French Formula One team per 1994 and more or less secure the future of his team in the sport. While Larrousse scored points in San Marino and Italy the team was struggling financially. With the Peugeot engines he hoped the state would back the team even more.
As a result of McLaren choosing the Peugeot engines Chrysler, within days after the announcement, sold the Lamborghini brand in mid-October to the Indonesian based Megatech company. At first Lamborghini Engineering, the company that’s behind the Lamborghini V12 engine was not part of the deal. However, the engineering side would eventually move to Megatech as well. While Daniele Audetto stated that the technical partnership with Chrysler would stay in touch. He believed as well that Lamborghini would lineup with Larrousse for the coming season and perhaps seasons.
There was also another team on the grid that was looking for a new engine supplier. Footwork, wo had a horrible deal a few years prior with Porsche, was looking for a replacement for their Mugen Honda engines. The team was powered by them in 1992 and 1993 with some decent results. Footwork was on speaking terms with Lamborghini for a supply in 1994. It would mean, at that point, that the company would supply at least two teams on the grid in 1994. Audetto even spoke about a third British based team that was interested in the engines for next season. However, Jackie Oliver announced in early December 1993 his team would use the Ford V8 engine, together with Minardi, the next season. Both Larrousse and Lamborghini were not in speaking terms with each other. The main issue for Lamborghini was now that they had to prove to their new “investors” in Indonesia that they were able to develop a decent engine with a strict amount of money. The original idea was to bring their engines free in the field. Yet, as McLaren switched to Peugeot and Footwork went for Ford their hope was now in Larrousse. The team was also keen to continue with the Lambo V12s. Everything would be different in early January 1994.
While it seemed that the deal was completed with Megatech, in late December the deal was not made officially. For Larrousse it took too long, as it was still unsure if Lamborghini would continue with their F1 programme after the take-over. Therefore, Gerard signed, like Footwork, a deal with Ford and would use their HB engines as well. The team had now to rush to complete their design for the Larrousse LH94, which would score two points in 1994 only to disappear from the grid in early 1995.
Lamborghini now losing it’s partner Larrousse was left without a team to power, which let the team to “temporarily” leave the Formula One. Daniele Audetto stated that while they have no customer they would continue developing the V12 engine. Eventually, as we know now, the V12s from Lambo did not return on the grid.
©Martin Lee
