9 replies to this topic

[ray b]

some cars are right on day one
some never get it right

BUT what car showed the most gains in a season
or over a career as back in the older days many cars ran more then one season
after a poor to mid pack start
I am thinking F-1 as that is the boards topic
and looking more to the car getting better then the driver
but if someone want to name and explain a sportscars rise
or indy or F-2 or F-3 thats fine too
as I am awed by the depth of insider knowledge here
and always willing to learn

Edited by ray b, 10 May 2009 - 20:04.

[ensign14]

Alfa Romeo 1980 can scarcely be beaten. Last row at first race, pole position at last. From 5 seconds off the pace to 0.8 seconds clear of the field.

[Rob G]

BAR Honda in 2005 comes to mind. They had zero points in the first nine races of the season, but scored points in every race after that, including seven top-5s in those ten races.

[lil'chris]

Lotus 77 ?

[Vitesse2]

Lotus 77 ?

Lotus 43?

Not to mention the Lotus 72 ....

[Ruairidh]

The Lotus T77 would be my choice. Remember the whole concept behind that car - the variable track/suspension - was ditched, the darn thing was as useless as useless could be at the beginning of '76, consistently 3-5secs off the pace (Gunnar's 3rd in Spain was one of the remarkable drives for me of that season) and yet took pole and won in Japan at the end of the season. And all that development was done at the same time Team was working on the revolutionary T78.

Edited by Ruairidh, 10 May 2009 - 23:21.

[Zippel]

Maybe not the most improved but the Jordan 198 deserves a mention.

First 8 races - 0 points.
Last 8 races - 34 points including a win and 4th in the constructors title.

[Glengavel]

some cars are right on day one
some never get it right

BUT what car showed the most gains in a season
or over a career as back in the older days many cars ran more then one season
after a poor to mid pack start
I am thinking F-1 as that is the boards topic
and looking more to the car getting better then the driver
but if someone want to name and explain a sportscars rise
or indy or F-2 or F-3 thats fine too
as I am awed by the depth of insider knowledge here
and always willing to learn

Porsche 917?

[COUGAR508]

Maybe not the most improved but the Jordan 198 deserves a mention.

First 8 races - 0 points.
Last 8 races - 34 points including a win and 4th in the constructors title.

Yes, I remember the tension when Ralf Schumacher managed to finish sixth at Silverstone. That was the turning point.

How about the Ferrari 312B in 1970? From relative mediocrity and unreliability to the class of the field in late-season.

[giacomo]

Probably the Ferrari F187. Four seconds off the quali pace in Rio - two poles and wins in a row in Japan and Australia.