Benetton B197
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 Alexander Wurzdriving the B197 at the1997 British Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
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| Constructor | Benetton | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Pat Symonds(Technical Director) Nick Wirth(Chief Designer) Nikolas Tombazis(Head of Aerodynamics) Bernard Dudot(Chief Engine Designer) (Renault) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | B196 | ||||||||||
| Successor | B198 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | double wishbones, pushrod, triple damper | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | double wishbones, pushrod, double damper | ||||||||||
| Engine | Renault RS9/RS9A/RS9B,71°V10 | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Benettonsix-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Power | 730-755 hp @ 17,000 rpm[1] | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Agip | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Mild SevenBenettonRenault | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 7. Jean Alesi8.  Gerhard Berger8. Alexander Wurz | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1997 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 1997 German Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 1997 German Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 1997 European Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
TheBenetton B197is aFormula One racing carwith which theBenettonteam competed in the1997 Formula One World Championship.There it was driven by FrenchmanJean Alesiand AustrianGerhard Berger,who were both in their second season with the team. However, Berger was forced to sit out three races in the middle of the season due tosinusproblems, and compatriotAlexander Wurzmade his F1 début by deputising for him, starting at theCanadian Grand Prix.
The car is a further development of the previous year'sB196,from which both drivers had struggled to extract maximum performance. The B197 proved competitive at nearly every race, but only scored one win, courtesy of Berger on his return to the cockpit inGermany.The main problem with the car was its inability to bring its tyres up to temperature on low-grip circuits, particularly in qualifying. However, Berger and Alesi did secure onepole positioneach during the course of the season. By the end of the season, it was clear that Benetton would adopt a new driver line-up for1998,with Berger retiring and Alesi moving toSauber.
The team eventually finished third in the Constructors' Championship, with 67 points. Both B197 cars are still actively used, competing in theBOSS GP Seriesas of2022.
The Benetton B197 was the lastBenettonFormula 1 car to utilize fully-fledgedRenaultengines until theB201in2001 seasondue to the company'srepositioning to privatisation plan.
Complete Formula One results
[edit](key) (results inboldindicate pole position; results initalicsindicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Mild SevenBenettonRenault | RenaultV10 | G | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | AUT | LUX | JPN | EUR | 67 | 3rd | |
| Jean Alesi | Ret | 6 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 2 | Ret | 2 | 5 | 13 | ||||||
| Gerhard Berger | 4 | 2 | 6 | Ret | 9 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 4 | |||||||||
| Alexander Wurz | Ret | Ret | 3 |
References
[edit]- ^"3rd Naturally-Aspirated Era (3NA), Part 2, 1995 - 2000; Egs. 79 to 85. The 3 Litre Formula"(PDF).grandprixengines.co.uk.Retrieved12 August2023.
- AUTOCOURSE1997–98,Henry, Alan(ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1997)ISBN978-1-874557-47-0
External links
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