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Arrows FA1

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Arrows FA1
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorArrows
Designer(s)Tony Southgate (Technical Director)
Dave Wass (Chief Designer)
SuccessorA1
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium monocoque
Axle trackFront: 1,651 mm (65.0 in)
Rear: 1,524 mm (60.0 in)
Wheelbase2,590 mm (102 in)
EngineCosworth DFV, 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionHewland FGA 400 5-speed manual
Weight593 kg (1,307 lb)
FuelFINA / Valvoline
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsArrows Grand Prix International
Notable drivers35. Italy Riccardo Patrese
36. West Germany Rolf Stommelen
Debut1978 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last event1978 German Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
100100
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Arrows FA1 was a Formula One car used by the Arrows Grand Prix International team during the first half of the 1978 Formula One season.

The FA1 was in reality a Shadow DN9, which Tony Southgate had designed for Shadow whilst working as a consultant for them. Southgate mistakenly believed that because he had designed the Shadow DN9 whilst working as a consultant (and not a Shadow employee) that he owned the intellectual rights to the Shadow DN9 design. Based on this misconception Arrows built the FA1, which was essentially a carbon copy of the DN9.

The FA1 was banned by the London High Courts partway through the 1978 season after a legal protest from the Shadow team, on the grounds was a blatant copy of the DN9. The judgement handed down ruled that over 70% of the FA1 was identical to the DN9 and that all four Arrows FA1's should be broken up by Arrows and their parts handed over to the Shadow team.

Knowing it would lose the case, Arrows hurriedly designed and built a new car, the A1,[2] whilst the court case was being heard and did not miss a race.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1978 Arrows Racing Team Ford Cosworth DFV G ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN 11 1 10th 1
Riccardo Patrese 10 Ret 6 6 Ret Ret 2 8 Ret 9
Rolf Stommelen 9 9 Ret Ret 14 14 15 DNQ DSQ

^1 3 points scored using the A1.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Arrows FA1 @ StatsF1
  2. ^ "CONSTRUCTORS: ARROWS GRAND PRIX". GrandPrix.com. Retrieved 12 August 2011.