Tag Archives: Formula 1

Tuning

Porsche 930 Turbo with F1 engine

In order to compete with Renault, McLaren joined forces with TAG and Porsche in 1982 to jointly develop a turbocharged F1 engine. The creative behind it is Hans Mezger, the legendary Porsche engineer who designed some of the best high-performance engines. In the following years, this engine proved to be a complete hit and McLaren won three championship titles. Now the British automotive company specializing in service restoration and development of unique vehicles, Lanzante, has installed these three F1 engines in three examples of the Porsche 930 Turbo.

The first of the three cars, the Championship 85, was powered by the Formula 1-spec 1.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that Alain Prost used in his McLaren in ’84, ’85. and ’86. The engine was restored by Cosworth, who installed new pistons, valves, springs, camshafts, air box, new exhaust system, and improved cooling. On the sides of the V6 engine are two lightweight turbochargers made of titanium (8 kg lighter than the original ones), which help the engine deliver more than 630 hp. It is mounted on 18-inch Dymag magnesium and carbon rims, the design of which resembles the wheels of the original McLaren F1 car. Lanzante says that the car now weighs only 920 kilograms.

The car is finished in the colors of Prost’s helmet, and is equipped with larger carbon ceramic brakes, Cosworth ECU unit and electronics with Formula 1 specifications. Inside, there are Recaro seats, a suede-covered steering wheel, and new seat belts.

This Porsche 930 Turbo will be premiered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which will be held July 11, 2024 – July 14, 2024.

Source: Lanzante

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Auctions

2008 Tyrrell P34 is up for auction

In 1975, the American racing team Tyrrell Racing Organization introduced the strangest Formula 1 car ever produced, the Tyrrell P34. It is a six-wheeler that proved successful in its first season and led other teams to start thinking about designing their own six-wheeled platforms. However, in 1978, the project was abandoned and Formula 1 stipulated that cars must have four wheels. One example of this car, the 2008 Tyrrell P34 will be auctioned.

The car is owned by former motor racing driver Jody Scheckter, Formula 1 champion in the 1979 season. He is the only driver from the continent of Africa to have won a Formula One race or the World Drivers’ Championship. In his 8-year career (1972-1980), he achieved 10 victories, 33 podiums, 3 pole positions and 5 fastest laps.

The Tyrrell P34 was designed by Derek Gardner, Tyrrell’s chief designer. He believed that the car could have smaller wheels under the wings, while another pair of wheels would compensate for the reduced contact surface of the smaller ones. His plan was also to reduce air resistance compared to rivals that used larger tires. Also, he thought that additional wheels would enable better braking, which did not prove to be a good solution on the track.

“The braking should have been better and it was on the straights, but as soon as you turned, the little wheels would slip and you would have to let off the pedal, so there was no advantage,” Scheckter previously told Motor Sport.

The cockpit is designed so that through transparent panels the driver can better position the car in turns, see the tires and monitor their consumption.

The Tyrrell P34 is powered by a Ford-Cosworth DFV 3.0-liter V8 engine with over 475 hp (354 kW) @10,000 rpm.

The car will be auctioned in Monaco on May 11, 2024 and the estimated value is between €450,000 – €650,000 EUR.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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2008 Tyrrell P34 is up for auction
News

2024 Aston Martin F1 Safety Car

After the 2023 Formula 1 season ended, many felt that the Aston Martin F1 Vantage as a safety car was too slow and not the right car for the job. Now the British manufacturer has premiered an improved and more powerful version that will be used as a safety car for the new Formula 1 season.

The car is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 665 hp (496 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. It accelerates from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph). That’s 30 percent more power than last year’s model, powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 528 hp (388 kW) and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) of torque.

The car has a new front splitter and redesigned chassis aerodynamics, a new rear wing, and redesigned signaling lights. The interior is equipped with Recaro Pole Position seats, Lime Essence details, the FIA system on the central console that allows the driver to track lap times, position all cars, and also see what the rear camera records.

The car will make its debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which will take place from March 7-9, 2024.

Source: Aston Martin

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2024 Aston Martin F1 Safety Car