Rial ARC1

Rial ARC1
Category Formula One
Constructor Rial Racing
Designer(s) Gustav Brunner
Successor Rial ARC2
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Carbon fibre monocoque
Axle track Front: 1,800 mm (71 in)
Rear: 1,600 mm (63 in)
Wheelbase 2,800 mm (110 in)
Engine Ford-Cosworth DFZ 3,494 cc (213.2 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Rial 6-speed manual
Weight 500 kg (1,100 lb)
Fuel STP
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants Rial Racing
Notable drivers Italy Andrea de Cesaris
Debut 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
16000
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0

The Rial ARC1 was a Formula One racing car manufactured and raced by Rial Racing for the 1988 Formula One season. It was powered by a Cosworth DFZ V8 engine. Its best finish was at the 1988 United States Grand Prix when Andrea de Cesaris drove it to fourth place.

Development

Rial Racing was established by German industrialist Günter Schmid, who had previous experience of Formula One with ATS Racing, to participate in the 1988 season. He contracted former Ferrari engineer Gustav Brunner to design a car based around the Cosworth DFZ V8 engine.[2]

The car, designated the ARC1, was similar in appearance in Brunner's Ferrari F1/87 and was known as 'the Blue Ferrari', though the ARC1 featured a different engine cover owing to different sized engine and fuel tank, as well as lower sidepods than the Ferrari due to not having to house turbochargers. Brunner gave the car a unique front suspension arrangement with its dampers positioned longitudinally at the height of the floor. Rial also developed its own gearbox for the ARC1. A total of three cars were built.[2]

Racing history

Rial Racing ran a single entry throughout the season for the experienced but erratic Italian Andrea de Cesaris who also brought much needed money to the team through his personal Marlboro sponsorship. For the season opening race in 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix, de Cesaris qualified 14th but retired during the race itself with engine trouble. At one stage, he was running in 6th place before he stopped for tires.[2] De Cesaris had no problems qualifying the ARC1 for every race of the season and would regularly run in the midfield. Its best qualifying was 12th, achieved five times.[1]

Reliability though was poor and was not helped with de Cesaris living up to his nickname "de Crasheris" by being involved in a number of accidents. By the end of the season, he had only been classified in five races and even in two of these, he was not running at the finish due to running out of fuel (the ARC1 was known to have the smallest fuel tank of the atmospheric cars in 1988).[1] However, one finish was fourth on the streets of Detroit where de Cesaris managed to stay out of trouble and quietly moved into the points as the crumbling track surface and the heat took its toll on the field. Finishing fourth in the last ever F1 race in Detroit earned the team three points.[2]

Complete Formula One results

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

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1988 Rial Racing Ford DFZ 3.5 V8 G BRA SMR MON MEX CAN DET FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 3 13th
Andrea de Cesaris Ret Ret Ret Ret 9* 4 10 Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8*

* classified but not running at finish

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Rial ARC1 @ StatsF1
  2. 1 2 3 4 Nye, 1992, p. 313

References

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