De Tomaso 801 F1 car
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Constructor: | Scuderia De Tomaso |
Designer: | Alberto Massimino |
Year: | 1962 |
Predecessor: | De Tomaso F1 |
Chassis: | tubular frame |
Wheelbase: | 2410 mm |
Mass: | 459 kg |
Tire: | Dunlop |
The De Tomaso 801 (Alternative name: De Tomaso 002 ) was a Formula 1 race car of the Italian car manufacturer De Tomaso in the 1960s .
History
The De Tomaso 801 was designed by former Ferrari designer Alberto Massimino .Born in Argentina racing driver and businessman Alejandro de Tomaso founded in 1959 in Modena, Italy, an automobile workshop in which he first race cars for various classes and from 1965 also produce road sports cars.The car was announced in the early 1960s at several Grand Prix, but appeared only at two events, qualified for only one race and finally put in a single lap. The 801 is considered the worst Formula 1 car of the 1.5-liter era.
The engine of the 801 was a water-cooled eight-cylinder boxer engine with a capacity of 1481 cc (68 × 51 mm) and two overhead camshafts. Each cylinder had two spark plugs . Mixture preparation was carried out using four double carburettors from Weber . De Tomaso gave the performance of the eight cylinder with around 170 hp, which was 25 to 30 hp below the values of the Porsche and Ferrari engines from the time. Observers doubted the accuracy of De Tomaso's statements and suggested that engine power was actually lower. The power transferred a constructed by De Tomaso five-speed gearbox.
The chassis of the 801 corresponded largely to the construction of the 1961 De Tomaso F1. It had a tubular frame that corresponded to the F1 in the front area. In the rear area over the engine further cross braces were attached, the installation of which was made possible by the flat-fitting boxer engine . The chassis consisted of inner swing levers on the front suspension and upper swing levers and diagonal struts on the rear suspension. A similar structure was built in 1948 at Massimino Maserati ; Colin Chapman took over the concept later for some Lotus racing cars. The front disc brakes came from Girling , the back of Amadori. The body of the 801 was manufactured by Fantuzzi .
Race History
The De Tomaso 801 was the second attempt de Tomasos to build a Formula 1 racing car. Previously, the company had to for the Formula Junior certain Isis constructed and a Formula 2 presented -car, which was not been used. From this F2 mentioned model, the De Tomaso F1 was derived, which appeared in 1961 in some Formula 1 races. The F1 was made in several copies, with purchased engines from Alfa Romeo , Ferrari and OSCAwere combined. No version of the F1 was successful; Often de Tomasos rider failed to qualify. Alejandro de Tomaso thought the engines used were not competitive and ultimately decided to design their own eight-cylinder engine. The new engine was installed in a likewise newly designed chassis, which received the designation 801 (alternatively: 002).
As it became apparent that the 801 was a failure, De Tomaso began planning for a successor who had an aluminum monocoque and should be equipped with a self-constructed V12 engine. The considerations did not go beyond the stage of first studies. De Tomaso returned in 1970 with the model 505 back to Formula 1 as a partner of British team Frank Williams Racing Cars .The orignal 801 stood until 2005 in De Tomaso's plant in Modena, before it was sold.
Unlike his predecessors, the De Tomaso other racing teams sold as the Scuderia Serenissima and the Scuderia Settecolli , the 801 remained as a single piece built in the factory. It was used exclusively by factory team Scuderia De Tomaso . This first appeared at the 1962 Italian Grand Prix . As driver of the Argentinian Stock Car driver Nasif Estéfano was used, who had previously driven only a Formula 1 race in a private Maserati 250F . In training, the car did not work properly. Estéfano was scored with a lap time of over six minutes while Jim Clark needed only 1:40 minutes in the factory lotus for a circuit tour. Although De Tomaso reported to use the 801 in the 1963 season Grand Prix of Monaco , Britain and France.However, the car did not appear for any of these races.
The last use came In 1963, the Scuderia De Tomaso with the 801 and Nasif Estéfano for the Grand Prix of Rome in Vallelunga , a spring race that had no World Cup status. 19 drivers were registered for this race. Estéfano qualified the 801 for ninth place on the grid. In the race he only returned one lap; at the beginning of the second lap failed with a clutch failure.
