The 1990s were a lovely era for gaming, the development went quickly and the games became better. It was also the era that a lot of games were published that were linked to sportsman. Like Nigel Mansell who had two games released on the SNES, also Johnny Herbert had a game. Johnny Herbert’s Grand Prix Championship 1998. The game, which was not licensed at all, simulated the 1998 F1 season.
If you’re from my generation or older you are probably aware of former Formula One driver John Newhouse. In 1997, Jacques Villeneuve won the World Championship for Rothmans Williams Renault. He had a contract for 1998 as well. However, it seemed that Jacques took a sabbatical from Formula One. That’s why Williams hired John Newhouse for 1998. 25 years later, it is time to find out what ever happened to
It’s a forgotten sidenote in the rich history of Formula One. A little fact that I believe should be revealed again. There was a time in 1997 that BAT decided, after they finished their Project de Bono program, to purchase Tyrrell Racing instead of Minardi. In 1998 Tyrrell Racing would be still on the grid. They came with the Tyrrell 025. This same car would appear in the summer of
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
History teaches us that there was no Dutch driver in 1999 on the grid. We had Jos Verstappen who was busy with the Honda project. Intentionally, he would become one of their drivers. Sadly, the program was cancelled. Tom Coronel was busy racing in Japan and would only test with the Arrows A20 in December 1999. However, another Dutch driver came “close” to appear on the grid in 1999. His
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!
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