Abortive Grand Prix projects

[Speed Demon]

March also built a six wheeler, to the same configuration as Williams, with four wheels at the rear. This configuration was dubbed '2-4-0' in deference to the naming system of train wheels.

[Speed Demon]

In fact, March even called it the 2-4-0. Wheeled out to the press in 1977, it was little more than a full-sized model.

In principle the idea was sound - lot's of extra traction for less drag, as all the wheels were smaller at the rear than the standard F1 size. It would also have made the ultimate wing car, as it could have incorporated a larger venturi than any other F1 car at the time.

The complicated drivetrain and gearbox proved its downfall, however. As originally drawn it was too expensive, so a cheaper, lighter structure was built. Because of the forces of the close-coupled transmission it proved unreliable when it ran, as a twisting casing wrought havoc to the transmission.

However, they bolted it onto the rear end of several 761s, even loaning one to Roy Lane who used it in the British Hillclimb Championship. Formiddable in the wet, he won races but in the dry it broke down, thanks to the higher cornering forces.

In retrospect the project was little more than a sponsorship raising gimmick, probably never intended for racing. It was however profitable - it was in constant demand for exhibitions and the royalties kept coming in from Scalextric models!

[Ray Bell]

Introduced new technologies, too... like casting their own gearbox housings... something that became commonplace over the next few years, especially incorporating oil tanks etc.

There's no doubt that the 4 wheels at the rear was a better option.

Williams actually built two different models with this arrangement, I'm sure. Somebody posted pics of both on Atlas' Nostalgia Forum.

[SHerbert]

The Bravo team was announced in late '92 and Jordi Gene was signed to drive for them in the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship.

The car was going to be built by Simtek.

In 1993 Gene was entered into the FIA International F3000 Championship for the Bravo team, but the team collapsed just prior to the first round. They had sponsorship problems, and no more was heard of them in F3000 or F1.

Jordi Gene appeared in the second half of that season's F3000 championship driving for Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

[Flicker]

In reality, IMHO, March 2-4-0 was not 4-wheel-drived...
but Williams for sure was!


March 2-4-0

Williams FW07C with special built Hewland gearbox

Williams FW07C

Williams FW08D

Enjoy!

[Ray Bell]

Even if the March was initially built with 2WD, it would have been 4WD by the time it hit the circuit in anger... had it done so.

Otherwise they'd be trying to screw the torque of the DFV through smaller tyres that weren't even carrying the full load of that end of the car... instant wheelspin in every gear!

[Vitesse]

Much information on abortive F1 projects can be found in Doug Nye's book "Motor Racing Mavericks", long out of print, but well worth seeking out second-hand.

[Ray Bell]

Does the Grand Prix rejects website cover this subject?

Not sure of the URL...

[Flicker]

Ray,
"Rejects" are here:

http://www.crosswinds.net/~f1rejects/main.html