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Obsecure question on the First F1 program...


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#1 Megatron

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Posted 09 September 2001 - 13:43

Remember the First F1 program that was supposed to run in 1989 with a Judd engine and Tarquinni? The F189 then became the Life W190 and we know how that turned out.

My question: If First and its principle Lamberto Leoni had actually entered the 1989 F1 championship, do you think they would have been in the same 30 second defficet that Life was in 1990? Or was it just that Life had a blowup engine and no money?

Does anyone know how the car was the few times Tarquni ran it?

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#2 Rainer Nyberg

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Posted 09 September 2001 - 14:39

I don´t recall ever to have seen any testing times of the FIRST.
But I remember that I admired the car and thought it looked purposeful when it was presented. I am sure that with proper development, the car could have been quite decent with Tarquini driving. The development was no doubt hampered by the fact that the car was used as a test-bed for the Life W12 and their attention had to be focused on getting the engine running.
After all, if you don´t have a working engine, how can you improve the chassis...?

#3 Jhope

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Posted 09 September 2001 - 19:21

Well Rainer, you've said that it was a purposeful looking car, I've scanned the net, and I cannot find any pictures of it. I am interested to know what it looks like.

#4 Jhope

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Posted 09 September 2001 - 19:27

From David Hodges great book,

Lamberto Leoni's team actually completed an F1 car late in 1988, then did not race it as funds were inadequate and an agreement with March for F3000 apparently precluded an entry into Grand Prix. The conventional Judd-powered 189 was designed by Richard Divila and was tested by Gabriele Tarquini. It was sold to Life Racing Engines to be used as a running test bed for their W-12 engine. The chassis was modified to meet FISA crash test requirments, to be entered in 1990 GPs by Ernesto Vita's Life team.


pp.102-103

So did it resemble the Life disaster of 1990 in any way shape or form?

#5 Rainer Nyberg

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Posted 10 September 2001 - 09:16

Okay, Jhope, here you are!

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I am also wishing all the best for Montreal captain Saku Koivu.

#6 Jhope

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Posted 10 September 2001 - 13:38

Wow! It does look very sleek from this angle! And I see that Life did butcher up the rear end in order to have the W-12 fit.:up: :up: :up:

#7 rod

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Posted 11 September 2001 - 10:12

I hate to bring up one of TNF's least popular subjects, but it would seem that Tarquini not only tested the First, but actually raced it. Yes, I'm talking about the Bologna Motor Show Sprint. How much longer can we go on ignoring these important events, such as the complete competition history of such a fine marque as First F1?