Spirit 201 Explained

Car Name:Spirit 201
Spirit 201C
Category:Formula One
Formula Two
Wc Results Only:Y
Constructor:Spirit Racing
Designer:John Baldwin
Gordon Coppuck
Team:Spirit Racing
Drivers:40. Stefan Johansson
Technical Ref:[1]
Chassis:Aluminium monocoque
Front Suspension:Double wishbones
Rear Suspension:Double wishbones
Wheelbase:2654NaN
Track:Front: 1753NaN
Rear: 1651NaN
Engine Name:Honda RA163E,
Configuration:80° V6,
Capacity:14771NaN1,
Turbo/Na:turbo,
Engine Position:mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Gearbox Name:Hewland FGB
Gears:5-speed
Type:manual
Fuel:Shell
Tyres:Goodyear
Weight:580NaN
Debut:1983 British Grand Prix
Races:6
Cons Champ:0
Drivers Champ:0
Wins:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0

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 to and in Formula One in 1983.

In Formula Two racing, the car was powered by a 2-litre naturally aspirated engine.

In Formula One, it was powered by the 1.5 litre turbocharged Honda engine. The 201 made its Formula One debut in the hands of Swedish driver Stefan Johansson at the non-championship 1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. There Johansson qualified the car 12th (out of 13, Jean-Louis Schlesser's RAM March did not record a time but still started). He retired with a blown engine after 4 laps having already moved up to 10th with laps as quick as the leaders, including what was reportedly the most powerful car of, the 6500NaN0 Ferrari 126C2B driven by René Arnoux.

For the team's World Championship debut at the 1983 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, a modified 201C design was produced, which Johansson qualified in a respectable 15th. But engine problems on race morning forced him to drive the 201 in the race, retiring after 5 laps with a broken fuel system. The 201C eventually only raced at the German and Dutch Grands Prix, with the 201 being driven in the other races. The car's best result was a 7th for Johansson in the Netherlands.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngineTyresDrivers123456789101112131415PointsWCC
Spirit RacingHonda RA163E
V6 tc
BRAUSWFRASMRMONBELDETCANGBRGERAUTNEDITAEURRSA0NC
201Stefan JohanssonRet12Ret14
201CRet7

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: STATS F1 • Spirit 201C . Statsf1.com . 2010-08-23.