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 1972 season.
Arno – Tecno 016L / Arno – Alfa Romeo 016L
Perhaps one of the few attempts that have been forgotten, and also the only one which host several stories surrounding the Arno 016L. Arno van Dijk was a car dealer, which appeared at a Dutch TV program called Studio Sport. In the program, he spoke about his dream. A Dutch F1 car. The car was already constructed in 1972 and was demonstrated in 1973 during the Trophy of the Dunes in Zandvoort. During the demonstration, the car was fitted with an F5000 engine. The car had similarities with a F5000 and a Formula 1 car.
The original plans were to fit a Tecno V8 or a Tecno V12 engine in the back. Sadly, the never appeared. I know some stories that Tecno was not able to create the engine. Eventually, assumable fitted with the F5000 engine, appeared in public during a parade. In December 1973 the Arno 016L resurfaced at the Jochen Rindt exhibition. Rumours appeared that the car was to be fitted with an Alfa Romeo engine. Planned was to debut the car during the Spanish Grand Prix of 1974. Peter van Zwan, a Dutch touring-car ace, was said to take place behind the wheel. It never happened.
Brabham – Weslake BT39
In 1971 Weslake appeared with an experimental V12 engine, it was said to focus on Formula One with it. It was basically the development of the orginal Gurney-Weslake engine. The Brabham BT39 was based on the Brabham BT38 F2 car. It had larger fuel tanks fitted. The front of the car showed similarities with the BT34. Reutemann tested the car with the V12 engine. Due to disappointing results, the project was abandoned in the summer of 1972.
BRM – Weslake P160
The BRM P160 fitted with the Weslake V12 engine is the similar story as with the Brabham BT39. Beltoise tested at Paul Richard with the car. He did over 70 laps on the short track with the car, and another 5 laps on the long track. The problem with the engine was the oil system. While Weslake prescribed their oil system, BRM decided to use their normal system. Eventually the engine had a bearing issue. Afterwards BRM ditched the project, as Weslake was not to provide more engines
GRD F5000
In 1972 several rumours surrounded in the media about GRD using their F5000 concept to adapt for the Formula One. Jo Marquart was the designer of the car. It was said that the car was build. However, there is no evidence so far that the car was adapted for Formula 1 racing.
McNally – Hesketh
McNally engineering announced in 1971 that they were planning to enter the Formula One in 1972. It would only take longer for McNally. In 1972 news appeared that the company of alloy wheels was in contact with Hesketh to use their V12 engine, which was in a design stage at that point. The car was fitted with numerous revolutionary ideas and concepts. Read the story here!
