A few weeks before i wrote about the Bono project. It was BAT (British American Tobacco)’s project to enter the Formula One. It was all about appearing on the grid in 1999 with their own team. As well, how to reach that goal. We all know that they eventually purchased Tyrrell Racing from Ken Tyrrell. Only using the Concorde agreements eventually to be allowed on the grid. Interestingly enough was
The title might be confusing though it isn’t if you have read this article. There was a time in the Formula One that young and talented drivers were offered tests with Formula One cars for winning a championship or important races. I don’t mean the “young” drivers that paid 500thousand euro’s to drive 20 rounds and get a free coffee and club sandwich. In 1997, Jacky van der Ende was
Everything has a begin, and if you look at the Formula One also an end. Many teams, and many circuits came and left the sport. A good example of this is the BAR (British American Racing) team that mate it’s debut in 1999. Behind BAR was BAT (British American Tobacco) that were to expand their brands like 555 and Lucky Strike more. Project de Bono is were it all started!
Barbara Behlau made it happen that Roland Ratzenberger made his debut in the Formula One in 1994 with Simtek. After Ratzenberger’s horrific dead in Imola, Barbara was impressed how the team kept the spirit for Ratzenberger alive within the team. This was one of the reasons she purchased 30% of the stakes in the team. Only a year later during the Monaco Grand Prix she became the true saviour of
You can’t imagine it now though there was a time a lot of drivers tested in the Formula One. Or teams tested in between races to test new aerodynamics or new engines. Or just to cash extra money by letting unknown drivers, who will never arrive, experience the Formula 1.As many of these drivers are long forgotten, and there isn’t a real overview of the test drivers, its all bits
Nearly five years ago i published one of my first articles on unracedf1.com. The last twenty-Five years of Team Lotus Part 1. There are multiple reasons why it never came to a part two in those years. However, this article can be seen as Part 2. After the team went into bankruptcy the team was rumoured a couple of time to return to the paddock. Eventually the team made it’s
2005 was the last year that privateers, the small teams, appeared on the grid. Minardi was the last team of an era were many tried their luck in the Formula One. Due the coming ban on turbo engines in 1989 and the restrictions, it was financially attractive for teams to try their luck. Most of them failed to even complete two season, some only did a few races before they
Minardi is probably one of the few teams in the rich history of the Formula One with plenty of rumoured drivers to drive for the team. Even more rumoured are the takeovers of the Minardi F1 Team. As to quote Paul Stoddart in 2005 “Over 40 groups were interested in taking over Minardi”. Let’s uncover history and see the almost driver moves for Minardi. 1984 – Minardi M184 Debut with
In early 1997, Alain Prost purchased the Ligier team from Flavio Briatore and even before the start of the season changed the name to Prost Grand Prix. For 1998, the team announced their exclusive contract with Peugeot to deliver them engines. For 1997 Prost Grand Prix drove with the planned Mugen-Honda engine and uses the JS45 designed by Loïc Bigois. However, did you know already in 1989 Alain Prost was
In 1997 Jacques Villeneuve became world champion in a controversial last race, were Michael Schumacher at that time the leader in the championship deliberately rammed Villeneuve whilst trying to defend. While new comer Lola appeared, a year to early, on the grid under pressure of MasterCard. After the Brazilian Grand Prix the team would not re-appear on the circuit. Besides the attempt of Sosprini to take over the team. Arrows
