Arrows

This article is about theFormula Oneracing team. For other uses of the termarrow,seeArrow.

Arrows Grand Prix Internationalwas a Formula One team active from1978to2002.The team was also known asFootwork.

Origins

The Arrows Grand Prix International team was founded in 1977, by Italian financier (someone who handles lots of money)Franco Ambrosio,Alan Rees,Jackie Oliver,Dave WassandTony Southgatewhen Rees, Oliver, Wass and Southgate left theShadowteam. They named the team after the first letter of each person's last name in order, spelling out AROWS. The name was then changed to the correct spelling of Arrows.

History

Arrows Grand Prix International

The team earned their first podium at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix, with futureWilliamsdriverRiccardo Patreseearning second. The rest of the season consisted of him earning points occasionally. Arrows fielded Patrese until 1981. In 1984 the team used BMW M12 turbo engines, and later Megatron turbos, and results improved as the turbo era moved along, going at its peak in 1988 when the team finished fifth in the constructors' championship. In between 1984 and 1988 the team had gotten two podium positions. Eventually when turbo engines were banned from the regulations, making them illegal to run in a race, Arrows' performance dropped, despite a third place podium finish at the 1989 USA Grand Prix in Phoenix.

Footwork Arrows

The team was renamed Footwork in 1991 until being changed back to Arrows after the 1996 season. Arrows' performance dropped with the usage of thePorscheengines. Footwork eventually changed to MugenHondaengines. The team also ranFordandHartengines as well.

Tom Walkenshaw's Arrows

In 1997,Tom Walkenshawbought a part of Arrows, and hired 1996 Drivers' ChampionDamon HillandPedro Diniz.Diniz was very rich and helped pay for Hill's salary, placing Diniz as the role of apay driver.Hill nearly won the Hungarian Grand Prix but a component failure meant that Hill had slowed down and fell to second place, where Hill would finish. In the next few years Walkenshaw would buy out what Jackie Oliver had owned.

As the seasons went on Arrows started to go in debt. In 2002 at times the two drivers,Heinz-Harald FrentzenandEnrique Bernoldideliberately failed to qualify for a couple of races in an attempt to save some money. The team could not finish the season and went into liquidation and folded at the end of the season. However,Phoenix Financepurchased the team's assets and tried to enter in the 2003 season but was not allowed.