- Connew
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Connew 
Full name Connew Racing Team Base Chadwell Heath, United Kingdom Founder(s) Peter Connew Noted staff Roger Doran
Barry BoorNoted drivers 
François Migault
David PurleyFormula One World Championship career Engines Cosworth DFV Debut 1972 British Grand Prix Races competed 2 (1 start) Race victories 0 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 0 Final race 1972 Austrian Grand Prix Connew Racing Team, commonly known as Connew (
/ˈkɒnjuː/), was a short lived British Formula One constructor. Founded in 1971 by Peter Connew, the team constructed a single car, the PC1, with the intent of competing in the Formula One World Championship in 1972. A lack of financial and technical resources meant that the car only managed to start in one championship race, the 1972 Austrian Grand Prix, with French driver François Migault at the wheel. Following the Austrian race, the car competed in a handful of non-championship races before being converted to meet Formula 5000 specifications for the 1973 season. The chassis was damaged beyond repair during the season finale at Brands Hatch and the team closed.Contents
History
At the age of 24, Peter Connew was asked by a friend if he wanted to attend the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Connew's employer refused to give him time off to attend the race, so he resigned and travelled to the race anyway.[1] Upon returning Connew needed employment and was hired by Surtees, a Formula One team run by former champion John Surtees, as a draughtsman.
1972: Formula One
His car proves you can build a Formula One car by sweat alone, and makes you wonder about some of the astronomic development costs you hear the Establishment quoting!"
After a falling out with team principal John Surtees, Connew left the team to pursue designing his own car. A garage was rented in Chadwell Heath and the initial construction of the chassis jig began in December 1970. Connew was assisted by Roger Doran, who worked as a shopfitter, and Connew's cousin Barry Boor.[1][2]
Connew's design philosophy was that whilst the car should be efficient, it should also be easy to work on and maintain. The Connew design was tested and refined by utilising a wind tunnel of a local technical college. During the build, drivers Tony Trimmer, Howden Ganley and Gerry Birrell all came to view the car, with Trimmer stating it to be one of the most comfortable cars he had ever sat in.[1]
The team planned to make their racing debut at the Monaco Grand Prix, but a sudden rule change required the construction of another chassis in a different type of aluminium. In the mean time, Connew made a deal with McLaren to purchase a second hand Cosworth DFV engine. Frenchman François Migault signed a deal to drive for the team and also provided a Ford truck, which carried the car to France. The truck broke down before it could get to the Charade Circuit, the location of the French Grand Prix and instead the team tested at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.[2]
The small team managed to show up at the 1972 German Grand Prix, but without having made a proper prior entry, participation was denied by the Germans.
The car finally took part in the practice for the 1972 British Grand Prix but was withdrawn before the race. The car had an unusual rear suspension which proved not to be up to the job, and the car was too slow anyway.
The car was modified and entered in the 1972 Austrian Grand Prix. Migault qualified at the end of the field despite some engine troubles. After 22 laps, Migault had passed 4 competitors, the suspension collapsed and Migault had a nasty moment. The car swerved towards the barriers on the start/finish straight, but the driver brought the car safely to a halt without damage.
The Connew reappeared at the end of season World Championship Victory Race at Brands Hatch with David Purley driving but did not start because of electrical problems.
1973: Formula 5000
The car was modified to meet Formula 5000 regulations and appeared in the British championship in 1973, fitted with a Chevrolet V8 engine.[3] The car made its first outing in the series at Mallory Park for round 10 of 18. Swiss driver Pierre Soukry qualified the car in twenty-first place, but was unable to start due to a split oil pipe.[4] Three races later, the Connew failed to qualify at Brands Hatch, with Soukry at the wheel.[5] The car's final appearance was at the season finale, again at Brands Hatch. Tony Trimmer drove but a collision with a barrier put the chassis beyond repair.[2]
Racing record
Formula One
Formula One World Championship
(key)
Year Chassis Engine(s) Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points WCC 1972 Connew PC1 Ford V8 F ARG RSA ESP MON BEL FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA 0 NC François MigaultDNS Ret Non Championship results
Year Event Venue Driver Result Category Report 1972 Rothmans 50,000 Brands Hatch François MigaultDNQ Formula Libre 1972 John Player Challenge Trophy Brands Hatch David PurleyDNS Formula One Report Formula 5000
British Formula 5000 Championship
(key)
Year Chassis Engine(s) Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1973 Connew PC1 Chevrolet V8 BRA MAL SIL SNE BRA OUL MAL MIS ZAN MAL MON SIL BRA OUL JYL ZAN SNE BRA 
Pierre SoukryDNS DNQ Tony TrimmerRet References
- ^ a b c d Nye, Doug (17 February 1972). "Connew: the story so far". Autosport 46 (7): 26–28.
- ^ a b c Diepraam, Mattijs and Muelas, Felix. "DIY heroes". 8W. http://www.forix.com/8w/connew.html. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Connew PC1-002". Old Racing Cars. http://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/car.php?CarID=Connew/2. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Rothmans F5000 Championship round: Mallory Park, 8 Jul 1973". Old Racing Cars. http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=E73J. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
- ^ Brown, Allen. "Rothmans F5000 Championship round: Brands Hatch, 27 Aug 1973". Old Racing Cars. http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=E73M. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
- Formula One results are taken from the Official Formula 1 Website. 1972 Season review. www.formula1.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Formula 5000 results are taken from the OldRacingCars.com website. Formula 5000 races. www.oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Rothmans 50,000 result is taken from the OldRacingCars.com website. Rothmans 50,000. www.oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- John Player Challenge Trophy result is taken from the OldRacingCars.com website. John Player Challenge Trophy www.oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
External links
- The Connew Story. History of the Connew project written by team member Barry Boor.
- DIY heroes. Article about the team.
Categories:- Formula One constructors
- Formula One entrants
- British auto racing teams
- British racecar constructors
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