Simtek S951

Racing car
Car_name = Simtek S951


Category = Formula One
F1 car = Y
Constructor = Simtek Grand Prix
Designer = flagicon|UK Nick Wirth
flagicon|UK Paul Crooks
Team = MTV Simtek Ford
Drivers = flagicon|ITA Domenico Schiattarella,
flagicon|NED Jos Verstappen
Chassis = Carbon-fibre monocoque
Front suspension = Double wishbones, pushrod
Rear suspension = Double wishbones, pushrod
Engine name = Ford-Cosworth EDB
Capacity = 3000 cc
Configuration = V8 (75°)
Turbo/NA =
Engine position =
Gearbox name = Benetton
Gears = 6-speed
Type = semi-automatic transverse
Differential =
Fuel = Elf
Tyres = Goodyear
Weight = Auto kg|595
"including driver"
Debut = 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix,
Autódromo José Carlos Pace.
Races = 5
Wins = 0
Cons_champ = 0
Drivers_champ = 0
Poles = 0
Fastest_laps = 0
The Simtek S951 was a Formula One car for the 1995 season. The number 11 seat was taken by Domenico Schiattarella and the number 12 seat was taken by Jos Verstappen. The teams test driver was Hideki Noda. Noda was set to take the number 11 seat for the second half of the season, but the team closed down after round five.cite web|url=http://www.f1rejects.com/teams/simtek/profile.html|title=Simtek - Profile|publisher=F1 Rejects|date=2004-10-13|accessdate=2008-03-28] The engine was a Ford-Cosworth EDB 3.0l V8.cite web|url=http://www.allf1.info/teams/simtek.php|title=Simtek Grand Prix|publisher=All Formula One Info|accessdate=2008-03-28] cite web|url=http://www.euronet.nl/users/guidof/h_cars.html|title=The F1 Cars - 1992 - 1999|publisher=euronet.nl|accessdate=2008-03-28] The team's main sposnsor was MTV.cite web|url=http://www.gpracing.net192.com/drivers/careers/519.cfm|title=Domenico Schiatterella|publisher=Grand Prix Racing|accessdate=2008-03-28]

Design and construction

The car was designed by Simtek owner and technical director Nick Wirth, along with the chief designer of Simtek Research, Paul Crooks.cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00029.html|title=Verstappen signs for Simtek|publisher=GrandPrix.com|date=1995-02-23|accessdate=2007-03-17] cite web|url=http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Simtek%20S951&type=M|title=Car Model - Simtek S951|publisher=ChicaneF1|accessdate=2008-03-28] It was a direct evolution of the 1994 season car, the Simtek S941.cite web|url=http://www.gpracing.net192.com/cars/data/540.cfm|title=Simtek S951|publisher=Grand Prix Racing|accessdate=2008-03-28] In order to secure a firm foothold in the sport following a traumatic F1|1994 season which included the death of one of its drivers, the team designed the S951 to be straightforward and uncomplicated.Henry (ed.), p.62]

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.

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. His best race performance came at the same race, where he ran in sixth place until his gearbox failed. [Henry (ed.), p.99] 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.

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.cite web|url=http://www.eurobossf1.com/News/article17.htm|title=GPLIVE EUROBOSS TEST DAY!|date=2007-03-19|accessdate=2008-03-28|publisher=EuroBOSS.com|quote=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.] cite web|url=http://cfm.globalf1.net/?page_id=161|title=Resurrection: Simtek Lives! An interview with EuroBOSS driver Peter Alexander|first=Scott|last=Russell|accessdate=2008-03-28|publisher=Chequered Flag Motorsport]

Complete Formula One results

() (results in bold indicate pole position)

References

Footnotes

Books

*cite book| last =Henry| first =Alan (ed.)| authorlink =Alan Henry| title =AUTOCOURSE 1995-96| publisher =Hazleton Publishing Ltd.| date =1995| id =ISBN 1-874557-36-5

External links

* [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.statsf1.com/cars/modele.asp%3FIdModele%3D199%26LG%3D1&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSimtek%2BS951%2Bsite:http://www.statsf1.com%26hl%3Den StatsF1 profile (translated)]