Spirit Racing

Spirit Racing
Base	Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Founder(s)	Gordon Coppuck ; John Wickham
Noted drivers	Stefan Johansson ; Thierry Boutsen ; Mauro Baldi ; Huub Rothengatter
Formula One World Championship career
First entry	1983 British Grand Prix
Races entered	25 (23 starts)
Engines	Honda RA163E V6 (t/c) (1983); Hart 415T L4 (t/c) (1984–1985); Ford Cosworth DFV V8 (1984)
Constructors'; Championships	0
Drivers'; Championships	0
Race victories	0 (best finish: 7th, 1983 Dutch Grand Prix)
Podiums	0
Points	0
Pole positions	0 (best grid position: 13th, 1983 German Grand Prix)
Fastest laps	0
Final entry	1985 San Marino Grand Prix

Last updated May 06, 2024

Spirit Racing was a racing car constructor and racing team from the United Kingdom. Founded in 1981, it participated in the 1982 European Formula Two Championship, moved to Formula One in 1983 (staying to the end of the 1985 season), then competing in the 1988 F3000 season before finally folding at the end of that year. In 26 F1 races (including the non-championship 1983 Race of Champions), its best finish was seventh at the 1983 Dutch Grand Prix.

Formula Two

Thierry Boutsen's F2 Spirit 201 Spirit201-F2.jpg — Thierry Boutsen's F2 Spirit 201

Spirit Racing was founded in August 1981 by ex-March employees Gordon Coppuck and John Wickham with backing from Bridgestone and Honda, who were keen to re-enter Formula One as an engine supplier.^[1] The initial plan was to participate in the 1982 European Formula Two Championship, and so ex-McLaren designer John Baldwin was hired to produce the Spirit 201 chassis with Coppuck, to be powered by a naturally-aspirated 2-litre Honda V6 engine. With sponsorship from Marlboro and capable drivers in Stefan Johansson and Thierry Boutsen, the car was an immediate success, taking pole position in eight of the 13 rounds of the championship, while Boutsen won three times and challenged for the title before losing out in the final round to the March of Corrado Fabi.

Formula One

Before the F2 championship was over, Honda had built prototypes for a turbocharged Formula One engine. After a dummy unit was sent to Spirit, the team modified one of its 201 chassis to meet F1 regulations, and began a testing programme with the new engine in November 1982 at Silverstone, with plans to join the F1 World Championship midway through the 1983 season. Honda were anxious to keep a low profile – much as they had been when they had first entered F1 two decades earlier – and so the team avoided testing at the same time as other F1 teams, while also taking its programme to Willow Springs and Riverside in California.^[2] Then, when the decision was made to enter one car into the World Championship, Johansson was chosen as the driver – he was seen as a faded talent having made a disappointing F1 debut for Shadow in 1980, whereas Boutsen was seen as a star of the future.

After a further test at Jacarepaguá, the team made its competitive F1 debut in April 1983, at the non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. In a field of 13 cars, Johansson set the second-fastest time in free practice, but suffered engine problems in qualifying and started 12th. He then retired early with a punctured radiator following a collision with the Theodore of Roberto Guerrero. Following this, the team resumed its testing programme, with sessions at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park, before making its World Championship debut in July at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Driving a further revision of the F2 car, the 201C, Johansson qualified 14th out of 29 cars despite continued engine problems, and ran strongly in the early stages before retiring with a broken fuel pump.

The team then continued in the championship until the penultimate race of the season, the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. Johansson tended to qualify ahead of most of the naturally-aspirated cars, and finished seventh at Zandvoort, but mechanical problems continued to blight the car. In the meantime, the team was building its first purpose-designed F1 car, the 101, but at the same time, Honda were showing concern at the lack of progress and were being courted by Williams, who offered a record of success. Following a disastrous weekend for Spirit at Monza, where the 101 was presented but not driven and Johansson suffered another early retirement, the Japanese company decided to supply its engines to Williams only, and Spirit thus missed the final race of the season at Kyalami.^[2]

Spirit decided to continue in 1984 with Hart turbocharged engines. Initially twice world champion Emerson Fittipaldi and moneyed Italian Fulvio Ballabio were slated to drive. However Fittipaldi left to find a drive in Indy car racing after finding the machine uncompetitive and Ballabio was refused a Super Licence. Instead Mauro Baldi found funds and was nominated as the team's sole driver, Johansson being released as he could not find the funding to continue. The 101 was a neat but underpowered car and Baldi struggled to move away from the rear of the grid. Jean-Louis Schlesser had planned to take over from the third race before the threat of litigation from RAM (still owed money by the Frenchman) saw Baldi stay until Huub Rothengatter took over. When the Dutchman's money ran out Baldi found enough funds to complete the season. The team's best result was 8th place, scored by Baldi on three occasions and Rothengatter once.

The 101 chassis (having been progressively upgraded throughout 1984) was updated again for 1985 and Baldi continued to drive. Allen Berg had arranged a deal to take over the seat later in the season. Money was even tighter, however, and after three rounds Wickham decided to take up an offer from Toleman to buy out the team's tyre contract and folded the F1 outfit. Wickham initially promised to be back with a new car in 1986 but that never happened.

Formula 3000

Spirit briefly resurfaced in Formula 3000 in 1988, running Bertrand Gachot, Steve Kempton and Paolo Barilla with some success, but co-founder Wickham left the outfit midway through the season and the team folded at the end of the year.

Formula Two results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Driver(s)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
1982	Spirit 201	Honda V6	B		SIL	HOC	THR	NUR	MUG	VAL	PAU	SPA	HOC	DON	MAN	PER	MIS
				Thierry Boutsen	12	2	3	1	4	6	2	1	Ret	9	4	1	6
				Stefan Johansson	Ret	Ret	14	6	3	4	7	Ret	4	11	Ret	11	7

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1983	Spirit 201 Spirit 201C	Honda RA163E V6 t	G		BRA	USW	FRA	SMR	MON	BEL	DET	CAN	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	RSA		0	NC
1983	Spirit 201 Spirit 201C	Honda RA163E V6 t	G	Stefan Johansson									Ret	Ret	12	7	Ret	14			0	NC
1984	Spirit 101	Hart 415T L4 t	P		BRA	RSA	BEL	SMR	FRA	MON	CAN	DET	DAL	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	POR	0	NC
				Mauro Baldi	Ret	8	Ret	8	Ret	DNQ									8	15
				Huub Rothengatter							NC		Ret	NC	9	NC	Ret	8
	Spirit 101C	Ford Cosworth DFV V8		Huub Rothengatter								DNQ
1985	Spirit 101D	Hart 415T L4 t	P		BRA	POR	SMR	MON	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	BEL	EUR	RSA	AUS	0	NC
1985	Spirit 101D	Hart 415T L4 t	P	Mauro Baldi	Ret	Ret	Ret														0	NC

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riccardo Patrese</span> Italian racing driver (born 1954)

Riccardo Gabriele Patrese is an Italian former racing driver, who raced in Formula One from 1977 to 1993.

Keijo Erik Rosberg, best known as "Keke", is a Finnish former racing driver and winner of the 1982 Formula One World Championship. He was the first Finnish driver to win the championship. He is the father of Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula One World Champion.

Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from 1978 to 2002. It was known as Footwork from 1991 to 1996.

Thierry Marc Boutsen is a Belgian former racing driver who raced for the Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier and Jordan teams in Formula One. He competed in 164 World Championship Grands Prix, winning three races, achieving 15 podiums and scoring 132 career points. His best finish in the World Drivers' Championship was fourth in 1988 whilst driving for Benetton. He also twice finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans sportscar race.

The 1985 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Imola on 5 May 1985. It was the third race of the 1985 Formula One World Championship. The 60-lap race was won by local driver Elio de Angelis, driving a Lotus-Renault, after McLaren driver Alain Prost had been disqualified for being underweight. It was de Angelis' second and last win. Thierry Boutsen was second in an Arrows-BMW, with Patrick Tambay third in a factory Renault.

The 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 43rd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It began on 26 March and ended on 5 November. Alain Prost won his third Drivers' Championship, and McLaren won the Constructors' Championship.

The 1987 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 41st season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1987 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1987 Formula One World Championship for Constructors, which were contested concurrently over a sixteen-race series that commenced on 12 April and ended on 15 November.

The 1985 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 39th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1985 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1985 Formula One World Championship for Manufacturers, both of which commenced on 7 April and ended on 3 November after sixteen races.

The 1983 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 37th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1983 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1983 Formula One World Championship for Manufacturers, which were contested concurrently over a fifteen-race series that commenced on 13 March and ended on 15 October.

Ivan Franco Capelli is an Italian former Formula One driver. He participated in 98 Grands Prix, debuting on 6 October 1985. He achieved three podiums, and scored a total of 31 championship points. From 1998 until 2017, he was a Formula One commentator on the Italian TV station Rai 1.

Stefan Nils Edwin Johansson is a Swedish racing driver who drove in Formula One for both Ferrari and McLaren, among other teams. Since leaving Formula One he has won the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and raced in a number of categories, including CART, various kinds of Sports car racing and Grand Prix Masters.

The Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda has participated in Formula One, as an engine manufacturer and team owner, for various periods since 1964. Honda's involvement in Formula One began as a full team and engine entry in the 1964 season, and in 1965 they achieved their first victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. After further success with John Surtees, Honda withdrew at the end of the 1968 season due to difficulties selling road cars in the United States and Honda driver Jo Schlesser's fatal accident.

The McLaren M23 was a Formula One racing car designed by Gordon Coppuck, with input from John Barnard, and built by the McLaren team. It was a development of the McLaren M16 Indianapolis 500 car. A Ford Cosworth DFV engine was used, which was prepared by specialist tuning company Nicholson-McLaren Engines. This helped push the DFV's horsepower output to around 490 bhp.

Footwork Arrows was a British Formula One motor racing team which competed from 1991 to 1996. Japanese businessman Wataru Ohashi, who was the president of Footwork Express Co., Ltd., a Japanese logistics company, began investing heavily in the Arrows team in 1990, the deal including requiring the cars to display the Footwork logo prominently. The team was officially renamed Footwork in 1991, and secured a deal to race with Porsche engines. Results were poorer than expected, and after just six races, Footwork dropped the Porsche engines and continued with Hart-built Ford engines.

The Zakspeed 861 was a Formula One car designed by Paul Brown for the Zakspeed team and was used in both the 1986 and 1987 seasons. In 1986 its drivers were Jonathan Palmer and Huub Rothengatter. The team did not employ a test driver as they could not afford one, despite sponsorship from German tobacco brand West. The lack of money also meant that the car's engine, Zakspeed's own 4 cylinder 1500/4 turbocharged power unit, which was rated at about 850 bhp for the season, was also short on power and development compared to those at the front of the grid. The team used Goodyear tyres.

The Williams FW09 was a Formula One car designed by Frank Dernie and Neil Oatley. It was the first Williams chassis to be powered by a turbocharged Honda V6 engine, for which Frank Williams negotiated a deal towards the end of 1982 and the beginning of 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirit 201</span>

The Spirit 201 was a Formula One and Formula Two racing car designed by John Baldwin and Spirit Racing co-founder Gordon Coppuck which was raced in European Formula Two from 1982 to 1984 and in Formula One in 1983.

The Spirit 101 was a Formula One car for the 1984 and 1985 Formula One seasons. The car was designed by Gordon Coppuck and Tim Wright.

The Honda RA16 engine is a highly-successful and extremely powerful, turbocharged, 1.5-litre, 80-degree, V-6 racing engine, designed for use in Formula One; between 1983 and 1988. The customer engines were used by Spirit, Williams, Lotus, and McLaren.

The Honda RA260E is a four-stroke, naturally-aspirated, 2.0-liter, V6 racing engine, designed for Formula 2, which was built and developed by Honda Motor Co., Ltd, for Formula 2 racing, in 1980.

References

↑ "Constructors: Spirit Racing". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
1 2 Watkins, Gary (July 2005). "Independent Spirit". Motor Sport . London. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Constructors: Spirit Racing". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[motorsportmag-2] 1 2 Watkins, Gary (July 2005). "Independent Spirit". Motor Sport . London. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[1]

[2]

v t e Formula One constructors
2024 season	Alpine Aston Martin Ferrari (results) Haas McLaren (results) Mercedes (results) RB Red Bull (results) Sauber (results) Williams (results)
Former	AFM AGS Alfa Romeo (results) AlphaTauri Alta Amon Andrea Moda Apollon Arrows (results) Arzani-Volpini Aston-Butterworth ATS (Italy) ATS (Germany) BAR Behra-Porsche Bellasi Benetton (results) BMW (results) Boro Brabham (results) Brawn BRM (results) BRP Bugatti (results) Caterham Cisitalia Coloni Connaught Connew Cooper (results) Dallara De Tomaso Derrington-Francis Eagle Eifelland Emeryson EMW ENB Ensign ERA EuroBrun Ferguson Fittipaldi Fondmetal Footwork Force India (results) Force India (Racing Point) Forti (results) Frazer Nash Fry Gilby Gordini Greifzu Hesketh Hill Honda (results) HRT HWM Jaguar JBW Jordan (results) Kauhsen Klenk Kojima Kurtis Kraft Lancia Larrousse LDS LEC Leyton House Life Ligier Lola Lola (Haas) Lola (MasterCard) Lotus (1958–1994) (results) Lotus (2010–2011) Lotus (2012–2015) Lyncar Maki March (results) Martini Marussia Maserati (results) Matra MBM McGuire Merzario Midland Milano Minardi Modena MRT Onyx OSCA Osella Pacific Parnelli Penske (results) Porsche (results) Prost Protos Racing Point RAM Realpha Rebaque Renault (results) Reynard Rial Scarab Scirocco Shadow Shannon Simtek Spirit Spyker Stebro Stewart Super Aguri Surtees SVA Talbot-Lago Tec-Mec Tecno Theodore Toro Rosso (results) Token Toleman Toyota Trojan Tyrrell (results) Vanwall Veritas Virgin Williams (FWRC) Wolf Zakspeed
Proposed	Andretti-Cadillac Audi Bravo F1 DAMS Direxiv Dome FIRST Hitech GP Phoenix Prodrive Stefan US F1
Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity. Constructors whose only participation in the World Championship was in the Indianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.