Larrousse LH94

Racing car
Car_name = Larrousse LH94


Category = Formula One
F1 car = Y | Constructor = Larrousse | Team = Larrousse Tourtel F1
Designer = Tino Belli
Tim Holloway
Drivers = flagicon|Monaco Olivier Beretta
flagicon|France Érik Comas
flagicon|France Philippe Alliot
flagicon|France Yannick Dalmas
flagicon|Japan Hideki Noda
flagicon|Switzerland Jean-Denis Délétraz
Technical ref = Henry (ed.), pp.74-75]
Chassis = Moulded carbon composite monocoque
Front suspension = Double wishbone, pushrod, inboard coil spring/damper
Rear suspension = As front
Wheelbase = Auto mm|2946
Track =
Engine position = Mid-engined
Engine name = Ford Cosworth HB
Capacity = 3.5 l
Turbo/NA = Normally-aspirated
Configuration = V8 (75°)
Gearbox name = Benetton
Gears = 6-speed
Type = transverse semi-automatic
Differential =
Tyres = Goodyear
Weight = Auto kg|515
Fuel = Elf | Debut = 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races = 16
Cons_champ =
Drivers_champ =
Wins = 0
Poles = 0
Fastest_laps = 0
The Larrousse LH94 was the Formula One car built and raced by the Larrousse team for the 1994 Formula One season. It was the second car to be fully constructed by Larrousse, which had previously contracted specialist chassis-builders to build its cars: Lola from F1|1987 to F1|1991 and Venturi in F1|1992. The LH94 was also the final car to be built and raced by Larrousse, as the team did not survive into F1|1995 owing to financial problems.

Concept

The LH94 was designed by Larrousse UK, a fifteen-strong component of the team based in Bicester, England. It was based around the monocoque of the previous year's LH93 chassis. The front suspension of the LH94 remained unchanged from the previous year, although the team changed its damper supplier from Bilstein to Penske. The car was also more structurally rigid than the LH93.

The main differences between the LH94 and its predecessor were that the LH94 had a smaller fuel tank to take advantage of the reintroduction of refuelling in pitstops in 1994, and a different engine. In F1|1993, Larrousse had used Chrysler-funded Lamborghini V12s, but the programme was halted for 1994. The team decided to return to Ford power, using the Series 7 version of Cosworth HB engine which had powered the Benetton and McLaren teams the previous year. Larrousse had previously used Ford Cosworth engines in F1|1987, F1|1988 and F1|1991.

Larrousse also made a deal with Benetton to use the team's 1993 gearbox in the LH94 chassis. Larrousse's association with Benetton was to prove controversial, however, as the former became involved in the aftermath of the latter's pit fire at the 1994 German Grand Prix, wherein Benetton's excuse for removing a filter in the fuel hose was attributed to communication between Larrousse and the fuel-equipment manufacturer, Intertechnique, which apparently authorised Larrousse to remove the filters in its own fuel hoses.

Construction

Four LH94 chassis were constructed at Larrousse UK. The first three were ready for the beginning of the season, whilst chassis LH94/4 came into service at the French Grand Prix, replacing LH94/3. [Henry (ed.), p.165] The car's livery was influenced by its new sponsor: after several years of being funded by the French government, Larrousse secured sponsorship from Belgian Alken-Maes brewery. The LH94 therefore usually ran in a green Tourtel livery, although on occasion this was replaced by a striking red-and-white colour scheme to display its sister brand, Kronenbourg.

Development

Despite a limited budget, Larrousse had a testing schedule for the 1994 season. However, following the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the San Marino Grand Prix, the technical regulations were changed for subsequent races to slow the cars down by making them produce less downforce. This resulted in new components having to be built for the LH94 and a new supply of spare parts to be confirmed for the rest of the season, which eliminated the financial support for any further development.

Racing history

Larrousse began the year with drivers Érik Comas, who had raced for the team the previous year, and Olivier Beretta, an F1 rookie who paid for his seat after experience in Formula 3000. The year began promisingly, with Comas taking 13th place on the grid at the Brazilian Grand Prix, and scoring a point in the next race at Aida. However, the regulation changes following the San Marino Grand Prix resulted in development work on the car ceasing, which co-incided with a run of engine failures for both cars from the Spanish Grand Prix through the middle of the season. Despite the efficient gearchanges provided by the Benetton transmission, which in Comas' words made it "fun to drive the car", [Henry (ed.), p.74] the LH94 suffered from abiding understeer and poor traction. As the team's rivals made progress throughout the year, Larrousse gradually sank towards the back of the grid. Comas did, however, manage to score another point at the attritional German Grand Prix.

Larrousse's parlous financial situation was exposed towards the end of the year, when Beretta was dropped after his financial support dried up. His seat was henceforth shared between former Larrousse drivers Philippe Alliot and Yannick Dalmas, in addition to rookie Hideki Noda. At the season-closing Australian Grand Prix, which would prove to be the team's last F1 race, team leader Comas was also replaced by Jean-Denis Délétraz.

Complete Formula One results

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

References

;Footnotes

;Books
*cite book| last =Henry| first =Alan (ed.)| authorlink =Alan Henry| coauthors =| title =AUTOCOURSE 1994-95| publisher =Hazleton Publishing| date= 1994| location =| pages =| url =| doi =| id =ISBN 1-874557-95-0

External links

* [http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Larrousse%20LH94&type=M Larrousse LH94 at Chicane F1]
* [http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Larrousse_LH94 Larrousse LH94 at the Formula One DataBase]