Footwork FA12

Racing car
Car_name = Footwork FA12


Category = Formula One
Constructor =
Designer =
Team = Footwork Arrows
Drivers = 9. Michele Alboreto 10. Alex Caffi, Stefan Johansson
Chassis = Carbon-fibre monocoque
Front suspension =
Rear suspension =
Engine name = Porsche 3512
Capacity =
Configuration = V12
Turbo/NA =
Engine position =
Gearbox name =
Gears =
Type =
Differential =
Fuel =
Tyres = Goodyear
Debut = 1991 United States Grand Prix
Races = 16
Wins = 0
Cons_champ = 0
Drivers_champ = 0
Poles = 0
Fastest_laps = 0

The Footwork FA12 was a Formula One car for the 1991 season. The number 9 seat was taken by Michele Alboreto and the number 10 seat was shared by Alex Caffi and Stefan Johansson. The team never employed a test driver. The engine the team started the season with was a Porsche 3512 3.5 V12.

By the time the Footwork team appeared at the French Grand Prix, the team switched back to the Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 engines for the rest of the year, in a modified version of the car designated the FA12C. [ [http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Footwork%20FA12C&type=M Footwork FA12C - ChicaneF1.com ] ]

Engine

The Porsche 3512 was intended for the new Footwork FA12, but the size and bulk of the engine meant the car had to be re-designed to install it properly, [ [http://www.forix.com/8w/engine-failures.html 8W - How? - Engine failures ] ] so the 1990-based car called the A11C was used for the first three race meetings. [ [http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Footwork%20A11C&type=M Footwork A11C - ChicaneF1.com ] ] Both Michele Alboreto and Alex Caffi failed to qualify for the United States GP, but Alboreto managed to qualify the car at Interlagos until retiring from the race. Alboreto also qualified for the San Marino GP, but failed to qualify for the Monaco, Canadian, and Mexican Grands Prix. Alex Caffi failed to qualify for the next three events, and was replaced for the North American rounds after sustaining injuries from a road accident. [ [http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr505.html F1 News - Grandprix.com > GP Encyclopedia > Races > Canadian GP, 1991 ] ] Stefan Johansson took his place at Canada, qualifying for the race but retiring with an engine failure. Stefan failed to qualify for the Mexican GP, which ultimately be the last appearance of the Porsche 3512 engine at a World Championship event.

One reason the Porsche engine was so uncompetitive was the weight of engine; when items like the clutch, flywheel, and other ancillaries were installed, it weighed 418 pounds, compared to the Ferrari V12 (308 lb.) and the Honda V12 (352 lb.) racing at the same time. The novel method of drawing power from the center of the engine led to oil pressure problems. [Autocourse 1991-92, Hazelton Publishing, p.48]

By the time the Footwork team appeared at the French Grand Prix, the team switched back to the Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 engines for the rest of the year, in a modified version of the car designated the FA12C. [ [http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Footwork%20FA12C&type=M Footwork FA12C - ChicaneF1.com ] ]

References