Shadow DN9

Shadow DN9
Category Formula One
Constructor Shadow Racing Cars
Designer(s) Tony Southgate
John Baldwin
Predecessor DN8
Successor DN11
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Aluminium monocoque
Axle track Front: 1,631 mm (64.2 in)
Rear: 1,641 mm (64.6 in)
Wheelbase 2,642 mm (104.0 in)
Engine Cosworth DFV NA
Transmission Hewland FGA 400 5-speed manual
Weight 605 kg (1,334 lb)
Fuel Fina/Valvoline
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable drivers
Debut 1978 United States Grand Prix West
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
26000
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0

The Shadow DN9 was a Formula One car used by the Shadow team during the 1978 and 1979 Formula One seasons. It is most famous for having been copied by the new Arrows team for their FA1. Arrows, formed by a disgruntled group of Shadows' staffers, were in the end prohibited from using the design.[2]

Development

The Shadow DN9 was developed by Tony Southgate, returning to Shadow from Team Lotus. After racing the last three quarters of the 1978 season, it returned for 1979. A new sponsor (Holland's Samson shag tobacco) necessitated a new paintjob and a series of wind tunnel tests and subsequent aerodynamic improvements were carried out. New side skirts were instroduced, helping to lower drag while doubling downforce.[3]

Racing history

The DN9 in 1978 trim, as raced by Clay Regazzoni

The Shadow DN9 was introduced at the 1978 Long Beach Grand Prix for first driver Hans-Joachim Stuck's use, although he did not start the race. Second driver Clay Regazzoni got the new car for the race after (Monaco).[4] Hawaiian driver Danny Ongais was also entered twice, by Interscope Racing, but failed pre-qualifying on both occasions.[1] Ongais also tested at Silverstone, where he went faster than Lammers who was to become Shadows' second driver in 1979.[5]

A disappointing 1978 meant using drivers of a lower caliber for 1979, with rookie drivers Elio de Angelis and Jan Lammers scoring only once, with de Angelis' surprise fourth place in the car's last race at the rainy 1979 United States Grand Prix. Interscope Racing, the privateer who had twice entered a DN9 in 1978, was the team fielding de Angelis, Shadows' de facto first driver.[1] The choice of Dutchman Lammers was tied to the Shadows team's main sponsor, the Dutch Samson shag tobacco company.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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

Year Entrant(s) Engine(s) Tyres Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1978 Shadow Racing Cars Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN 6* 11th
Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck 16 DNS Ret Ret Ret 11 11 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret
Switzerland Clay Regazzoni 17 DNQ Ret 15 5 Ret Ret DNQ NC DNQ NC 14 DNQ
Interscope Racing United States Danny Ongais 39[5] DNPQ DNPQ
1979 Shadow Racing Cars Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 3 10th
Netherlands Jan Lammers 17 Ret 14 Ret Ret 12 10 DNQ 18 11 10 Ret Ret DNQ 9 DNQ
Interscope Shadow Racing Italy Elio de Angelis 18 7 12 Ret 7 Ret Ret DNQ 16 12 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4

* 2 points scored in 1978 was with the DN8

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Stats F1. "Shadow DN9". Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. "CONSTRUCTORS: ARROWS GRAND PRIX". GrandPrix.com. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  3. Lammers, Jan (1979-03-24). "Lammers' Visie". Autovisie (in Dutch) (Amersfoort, Netherlands: Arnold van der Wees) 24 (6): 61.
  4. Hodges, 2001, p. 210
  5. 1 2 "Danny Ongais Biography". F1 Rejects. Archived from the original on 2013-03-21.

References

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