Simtek S951

The Simtek S951 was a Formula One car designed by Nick Wirth and Paul Crooks and used by Simtek for the 1995 season. The number 11 seat was taken by Domenico Schiattarella and the number 12 seat was taken by Jos Verstappen. The team's test driver was Hideki Noda. Noda was set to take the number 11 seat for the second half of the season, but the team folded after round five.[2] The engine was a Ford-Cosworth EDB 3.0l V8.[3][4] The team's main sponsor was MTV.[5]

Simtek S951
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorSimtek
Designer(s)Nick Wirth (Technical Director)
Paul Crooks (Chief Designer)
PredecessorS941
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, pushrod
EngineFord-Cosworth EDB 3000 cc V8 (75°) naturally-aspirated
TransmissionBenetton 6-speed semi-automatic transverse
Power630 hp @ 13,200 rpm[1]
Weight595 kg (1,312 lb)
including driver
FuelCastrol
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsMTV Simtek Ford
Notable drivers11. Italy Domenico Schiattarella
12. Netherlands Jos Verstappen
Debut1995 Brazilian Grand Prix,
Autódromo José Carlos Pace.
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
5000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Design and construction
Simtek's pre-season launch. From left to right: Domenico Schiattarella, Jos Verstappen and Hideki Noda.

The car was designed by Simtek owner and technical director Nick Wirth, along with the chief designer of Simtek Research, Paul Crooks.[6][7] It was a direct evolution of the 1994 season car, the S941.[8] In order to secure a firm foothold in the sport following a traumatic season in which Roland Ratzenberger was killed at Imola whilst driving the S941, the team designed the S951 to be straightforward and uncomplicated.[9]

One of the main changes was the change of the engine and gearboxes, as Simtek were given the old Benetton gearbox alongside the Ford-Cosworth EDB engine, which replaced the Ford-Cosworth HB engines. The Benetton gearboxes were used as part of the team's deal to employ Verstappen, who was loaned from his position as Benetton's test driver. The S951s were the last cars to be completed of all the 1995 F1 teams' chassis, arriving at the first round of the championship in Brazil with minimal testing.[9]

Racing history

The S951 was much more competitive than the S941 machine, with Verstappen and Schiattarella bringing the car to the finish on several occasions. Verstappen was able to qualify the car in the midfield at several races, his best being fourteenth at Argentina, although he only finished one race due to transmission unreliability.[9] His best race performance came at the same race, where he ran in sixth place until his gearbox failed.[10] Schiattarella, however, made the end to score the team's highest finish with ninth place.

Wirth revealed at the Monaco round, where both drivers failed to make the race start, that in the eighteen months the team had existed, that had amassed £6 million of debts, partially due to a deal that failed to materialise involving a con. Wirth decided against travelling to the Canadian GP in the hope of securing sponsorship for the next round in France, but this failed. The team went bankrupt and did not compete in any more rounds. The chassis was sold off in an auction in July 1995, with Verstappen's chassis selling for £18,000, with Schiattarella's chassis selling for £16,000.[2]

The S951 car was not used from 1995 until 2006, but two examples of it were used in the 2007 EuroBOSS Championship, with Paul Smith and Peter Alexander driving the chassis.[11][12]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1995 Simtek Ford Cosworth V8 G BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR PAC JPN AUS 0 13th
Schiattarella Ret 9 Ret 15 DNS
Verstappen Ret Ret Ret 12 DNS

References

Footnotes
  1. "Engine Ford Cosworth • STATS F1".
  2. "Simtek - Profile". F1 Rejects. 2004-10-13. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  3. "Simtek Grand Prix". All Formula One Info. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  4. "The F1 Cars - 1992 - 1999". euronet.nl. Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  5. "Domenico Schiatterella". Grand Prix Racing. Archived from the original on 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  6. "Verstappen signs for Simtek". GrandPrix.com. 1995-02-23. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  7. "Car Model - Simtek S951". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  8. "Simtek S951". Grand Prix Racing. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
  9. Henry (ed.), p. 62
  10. Henry (ed.), p. 99
  11. "GPLIVE EUROBOSS TEST DAY!". EuroBOSS.com. 2007-03-19. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-03-28. With the time lost due to conditions and with few laps under their belt, Jodie Hemming in the striking 'snake head' Jordan and the two beautiful 1995 Simteks of Paul Smith and Peter Alexander, used the little time the weather allowed, to sort their cars for the forthcoming 16 race series.
  12. Russell, Scott. "Resurrection: Simtek Lives! An interview with EuroBOSS driver Peter Alexander". Chequered Flag Motorsport. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2008-03-28.

Books
  • Henry, Alan, ed. (1995). AUTOCOURSE 1995-96. Hazleton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-874557-36-5.
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