1962

Unraced projects of the 1962 season

Projects 1946 - 1969

Since the early days of Grand Prix racing many attempts were made to enter the Formula One and pre-war Grand Prix era. The period 1885 – 2021 contains over 650 Unraced projects. Every now and then new projects appear on the surface. To share with you all the stories i decided to summarize the stories per year. Don’t you worry, all the stories will be researched and eventually published. This is the summarized overview of the 1962 season.

Ausper-Clisby V6
In 1961 the plans came for an all Australian Grand Prix team in 1962. Clisby Douglas designed the Clisby V6 1,5l engine that was to be fitted in an Ausper F1 chassis. For unknown reason the project did not happen. However, in 1965 the engine would find its way in the Elfin T100 with chassis number M6548. 1965 was the last year for the 1,5l engine; it meant that the car never appeared in a European Grand Prix.

Cegga MK2 – Maserati
During two non-championship races in 1962 the Cegga MK2 powered by Maserati appeared on the start list. The brothers Claude & Georges Gachnang built the car. In Aigle Switzerland. The car was tested a couple of times, what my data tells me, before they went to Pau for their first Grand Prix. Maurice Caillet took place behind the wheel. During the practice, the team saw that the car was lacking speed. The team did not try to qualify the car. They improved the car and were ready to start at their second Grand Prix of 1962. The Napels Grand Prix. Sadly, the team encountered the same problems and the last race. After the practice sessions the team let the qualification go and went back home. The car has never been seen at a start of a Grand Prix.

Tomaso 801
When the Formula One appeared with new regulations towards the engines a new team appeared on the grid. Scuderia De Tomaso from former Formula 1 driver Alejandro de Tomaso. He established his company in 1960 when he started to construct F2 cars. To construct his first F1 car he hired designer Alberto Massimino. The Tipo 801 was made up of aluminium and was fitted with the 1 35-degree V8 engine. The car debuted in 1962 during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Nasif Estafano, an Argentinian stock-car driver, was hired to debut the car. Sadly the car was too slow, Jim Clark clocked a time of 1,40.3 while Estafano did a round in 6 minutes.

The car returned back to the team and they decided not to return on the grid in 1962. For 1963, the team made several entries for Monaco, Reims and Silverstone though never managed to appear. The team would appear only at the non-championship race at Vallelunga. Due to an malfunction of the Clutch they were unable to finish the race.

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