Rial ARC2

Rial ARC2
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorRial Racing
Designer(s)Stefan Fober
PredecessorRial ARC1
Technical specifications[1][2]
ChassisCarbon fibre/Kevlar monocoque
Axle trackFront: 1,800 mm (71 in)
Rear: 1,600 mm (63 in)
Wheelbase2,800 mm (110 in)
EngineFord-Cosworth DFR 3,494 cc (213.2 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionRial 6-speed manual
Weight500 kg (1,100 lb)
FuelSTP
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsRial Racing
Notable driversGermany Christian Danner
Switzerland Gregor Foitek
France Bertrand Gachot
France Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Germany Volker Weidler
Debut1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
4000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Rial ARC2 was a Formula One racing car manufactured and raced by Rial Racing for the 1989 Formula One season. It was powered by a Cosworth DFR V8 engine. Its best finish was at the 1989 United States Grand Prix when Christian Danner drove it to fourth place.

Development

[edit]

Rial Racing had run the tidy Rial ARC1, designed by Gustav Brunner, in 1988 and had scored three points with it. [3]For 1989, a new chassis, largely based on the previous year's car and designated the ARC2, was designed by Stefan Fober, with input from Bob Bell and Martin Goodrich.[4] The chassis was configured with double wishbone pullrod suspension, front and rear, with Koni dampers. The wheelbase of the chassis was 2,840 millimetres (112 in) and it had a front track of 1,800 millimetres (71 in). The rear track was less, 1,600 millimetres (63 in).[5]

The ARC2 was powered by the Cosworth DFR 3.5 litre V8 engine.[5] The engine was rated as having 595 bhp with a maximum rpm of 11,000.[6] A Lucas ignition system was used[6] and the car ran on Goodyear tyres. It carried sponsorship from Rial, the parent company of Rial Racing, the tobacco brand Marlboro, and La Cinq.[5] A total of three chassis were built for the 1989 season.[3]

Racing history

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Having run a single car for Andrea de Cesaris the previous season, Rial Racing expanded to two entries for 1989. De Cesaris had moved to BMS Scuderia Italia for 1989 and was replaced with the relatively experienced German Christian Danner. Driving the second car was Formula One novice Volker Weidler.[1]

Danner comfortably qualified his ARC2 17th on the grid at the season opening Brazilian Grand Prix and went on to be classified 14th in the race itself despite retiring with gear box issues. This proved to be the car's best qualifying performance all year; from hereon both drivers would struggle to qualify (pre-qualify in Weidler's case). Danner only managed to qualify for three more races, all in the early part of the season. He finished 12th in Monaco[1] but followed this up at the next race in the United States with a finish in the points. From last on the grid, and benefiting from an attrition afflicted race, Danner finished in fourth place.[3] At the next race he placed eighth but this proved to be the last classification for the ARC2.[1]

Danner failed to make the grid for the next seven races and left the team after the Portuguese Grand Prix. His replacements, first Gregor Foitek for one race and Bertrand Gachot for the last two races of the year, both failed to make the race proper. Weidler, in the other car, did not pre-qualify for nine races and was excluded from a tenth. He was replaced by Pierre-Henri Raphanel who did not fare any better.[1]

Danner's three points scored in the United States saw Rial Racing place 13th in the Constructors' Championship.[1] Following the end of the season, the team withdrew from Formula One.[3]

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts. WCC
1989 Rial Racing Ford DFZ 3.5 V8 G BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 3 13th
Christian Danner 14* DNQ DNQ 12 4 8 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
Volker Weidler DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ EX DNQ
Pierre-Henri Raphanel DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
Gregor Foitek DNQ
Bertrand Gachot DNQ DNQ

* classified but not running at finish

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Rial ARC2". Statsf1. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  2. ^ Henry 1989, pp. 76, 85.
  3. ^ a b c d Nye 1992, p. 313.
  4. ^ Henry 1989, p. 102.
  5. ^ a b c Henry 1989, p. 85.
  6. ^ a b Henry 1989, p. 76.

References

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  • Henry, Alan (1989). Autocourse 1989/90. Richmond, Surrey: Hazelton Publishing. ISBN 0-905138-62-7.
  • Nye, Doug (1992). Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Car 1966–1991. Richmond, Surrey: Hazelton Publishing. ISBN 0905138945.