Theodore TR1 F1 car

Constructor:	Theodore Racing
Years:	1978
Type:	Race car
Body class:	F1 single seat
Engine:	Cosworth DFV

The Theodore TR1 was a racing car of the Hong Kong racing team Theodore Racing , which was used in 1978 in Formula 1 .

Indonesia-born businessman Theodore "Teddy" Yip has been a sponsor of British motorsport since the early 1970s. From 1974 to 1976 he supported the Formula 5000 bets by Alan Jones , Brian Redman and Vern Schuppan . In 1977 , Yip appeared for the first time in Formula 1, with the Theodore Racing Team was initially still organizationally supervised by the British team Ensign . In 1978 Theodore reported with the TR1 the first own racing car.

The car had been developed in 1977 by Ralt , a British design bureau headed by former Brabham designer Ron Tauranac and Len Bailey. Both had developed the TR1 with a view to a possible factory fit in Formula 1. When these plans could not be implemented for financial reasons, they sold the construction to Teddy Yips racing team, After a year as a customer team, he became his own designer. However, the TR1 proved to be unfit, so its deployment was completed before the end of the season. Theodore Racing contested the remaining races of the 1978 season with a Wolf WR3 and a WR4. After the end of the season, Theodore initially turned away from the Formula 1 World Championship, before returning in 1981 with the Theodore TR2 and the TY01 .

The Theodore TR1 was a  entirely conventional car which used details of the 1971 Brabham BT34 again. An unusual design element for the late 1970s was the central coolant radiator housed in the nose of the vehicle, which caused a wide frontal structure and impaired the aerodynamics. The drive a 3.0 liter naturally aspirated eight cylinder by Cosworth . The weight of the car is given as 610 kg; TR1 was thus the most serious Formula 1 car of the season 1978. Theodore only produced two copies of the TR1.

Theodore TR1 Technical specifications

• Chassis: aluminium monocoque
• Engine: Ford Cosworth DFV 90º V8
• Engine location: Mid, longitudinally mounted
• Engine Displacement: 2,993 cc / 182.6 cu in
• Compression: 11.5:1
• Induction: Lucas Fuel Injection Naturally Aspirated
• Power: 480 bhp
• Torque: 353 Nm
• Gearbox: Hewland FGA 400
• Drive: Rear wheel drive
• Weight: 1,345 lbs
• Wheelbase: 2,544 mm
• Tyres: Goodyear