Rial ARC2
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Rial Racing | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Stefan Fober | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Rial ARC1 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1][2] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre/Kevlarmonocoque | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,800 mm (71 in) Rear: 1,600 mm (63 in) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm (110 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford-Cosworth DFR3,494 cc (213.2 cu in), 90°V8,NA,mid-engine,longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Rial 6-speedmanual | ||||||||
| Weight | 500 kg (1,100 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | STP | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Rial Racing | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Christian Danner Gregor Foitek Bertrand GachotPierre-Henri RaphanelVolker Weidler | ||||||||
| Debut | 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
TheRial ARC2was aFormula Oneracing carmanufactured and raced byRial Racingfor the1989 Formula One season.It was powered by aCosworth DFRV8 engine. Its best finish was at the1989 United States Grand PrixwhenChristian Dannerdrove it to fourth place.
Development
[edit]Rial Racinghad run the tidyRial ARC1,designed byGustav Brunner,in 1988 and had scored three points with it.[3]For 1989, a new chassis, largely based on the previous year's car and designated the ARC2, was designed by Stefan Fober, with input fromBob Belland Martin Goodrich.[4]The chassis was configured with double wishbone pullrod suspension, front and rear, with Koni dampers. The wheelbase of the chassis was 2,840 millimetres (112 in) and it had a front track of 1,800 millimetres (71 in). The rear track was less, 1,600 millimetres (63 in).[5]
The ARC2 was powered by the Cosworth DFR 3.5 litreV8 engine.[5]The engine was rated as having 595bhpwith a maximumrpmof 11,000.[6]A Lucas ignition system was used[6]and the car ran onGoodyeartyres. It carried sponsorship from Rial, the parent company of Rial Racing, the tobacco brandMarlboro,andLa Cinq.[5]A total of three chassis were built for the 1989 season.[3]
Racing history
[edit]Having run a single car forAndrea de Cesaristhe previous season, Rial Racing expanded to two entries for 1989. De Cesaris had moved toBMS Scuderia Italiafor 1989 and was replaced with the relatively experienced GermanChristian Danner.Driving the second car was Formula One noviceVolker Weidler.[1]
Danner comfortably qualified his ARC2 17th on the grid at the season openingBrazilian Grand Prixand went on to be classified 14th in the race itself despite retiring with gear box issues. This proved to be the car's best qualifying performance all year; from hereon both drivers would struggle to qualify (pre-qualify in Weidler's case). Danner only managed to qualify for three more races, all in the early part of the season. He finished 12th inMonaco[1]but followed this up at the next race in theUnited Stateswith a finish in the points. From last on the grid, and benefiting from an attrition afflicted race, Danner finished in fourth place.[3]At the next race he placed eighth but this proved to be the last classification for the ARC2.[1]
Danner failed to make the grid for the next seven races and left the team after thePortuguese Grand Prix.His replacements, firstGregor Foitekfor one race andBertrand Gachotfor the last two races of the year, both failed to make the race proper. Weidler, in the other car, did not pre-qualify for nine races and was excluded from a tenth. He was replaced byPierre-Henri Raphanelwho did not fare any better.[1]
Danner's three points scored in the United States saw Rial Racing place 13th in the Constructors' Championship.[1]Following the end of the season, the team withdrew from Formula One.[3]
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 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Rial Racing | Ford DFZ3.5V8 | G | BRA | SMR | MON | MEX | USA | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 3 | 13th | |
| Christian Danner | 14* | DNQ | DNQ | 12 | 4 | 8 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||
| Volker Weidler | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | EX | DNQ | ||||||||||||
| Pierre-Henri Raphanel | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||
| Gregor Foitek | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Bertrand Gachot | DNQ | DNQ |
* classified but not running at finish
Notes
[edit]- ^abcdef"Rial ARC2".Statsf1.Retrieved18 July2021.
- ^Henry 1989,pp. 76, 85.
- ^abcdNye 1992,p. 313.
- ^Henry 1989,p. 102.
- ^abcHenry 1989,p. 85.
- ^abHenry 1989,p. 76.
References
[edit]- Henry, Alan (1989).Autocourse 1989/90.Richmond, Surrey: Hazelton Publishing.ISBN0-905138-62-7.
- Nye, Doug(1992).Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Car 1966–1991.Richmond, Surrey: Hazelton Publishing.ISBN0905138945.