8 replies to this topic

[mikeselmer]

Hi all,

 

I am trying to find the current location of the Simtek Ford S941 car driven by David Brabham in 1994 season. Where is it currently?

 

Related to this, I have some questions to all you F1 pros, please help if you can answer any of these:

 

1) Was it Brabham's car that was given to Cosworth as partial payment for debts?

2) Simtek had 5 cars in 1994, correct?

3) Were there TWO cars allotted to Brabham?

4) Which of the two Brabham cars was given to Cosworth?

4) How can one identify a particular Simtek?

 

Marconi Automotive Museum used to have one S941 (not anymore). They told me it was only a backup car and wasn't used by Brabham. But the car used to have a plaquette next to it indicating it WAS his car...confusing.

 

There is also one at Brooklands Museum in the UK. That one has Cosworth livery. Could that be the one (with the Cosworth link)? However, the chassis plate says "F1 D (display)" - what would that indicate?

 

Cheers!

[Gabrci]

I guess it's worth an email trying to ask Nick Wirth

 

https://wirthresearch.com/

[mikeselmer]

I guess it's worth an email trying to ask Nick Wirth

 

https://wirthresearch.com/

 

Nice, I will do that and report back if I get a reply.

[Henk Vasmel]

I checked my database for Simteks S941 in 1994, and find 5 chassis, nrs. 1 - 5.

1 was the Ratzenberger car, destroyed at Imola

2 was David Brabham's original car, used until Portugal

3 was Montermini's first car, only seen once in Spain, crashed in practice, (replacement for 1)

4 was the replacement for 3, for the second driver, Gounon, Schiatarella and Inoue.

5 was the second David Brabham car, from the European GP, (2nd race in Spain).

In two races, David B. used his team-mate's car in practice, but always raced his own car. in Imola and in Monza.

 

If I'm not mistaken, this would mean 3 surviving cars, 2 of which (2 and 5) as Brabham's car, and 4 as the other car.

 

Display cars are also built, and usually not raced, but they have unique chassis numbers (sometimes?). I recently saw a 2024 Red Bull car with such a display number (RB20-SC-12). It was missing quite some wing detail, like DRS etc. so it was in no condition to be raced.

Edited by Henk Vasmel, 10 March 2025 - 14:29.

[mikeselmer]

I checked my database for Simteks S941 in 1994, and find 5 chassis, nrs. 1 - 5.

1 was the Ratzenberger car, destroyed at Imola

2 was David Brabham's original car, used until Portugal

3 was Montermini's first car, only seen once in Spain, crashed in practice, (replacement for 1)

4 was the replacement for 3, for the second driver, Gounon, Schiatarella and Inoue.

5 was the second David Brabham car, from the European GP, (2nd race in Spain).

In two races, David B. used his team-mate's car in practice, but always raced his own car. in Imola and in Monza.

 

If I'm not mistaken, this would mean 3 surviving cars, 2 of which (2 and 5) as Brabham's car, and 4 as the other car.

 

Display cars are also built, and usually not raced, but they have unique chassis numbers (sometimes?). I recently saw a 2024 Red Bull car with such a display number (RB20-SC-12). It was missing quite some wing detail, like DRS etc. so it was in no condition to be raced.

 

That's very cool info, thanks!

 

What do you think about these points?:

 

1) Car number 4 (chassis 004, fact checked) used to be at Marconi Museum (it is not there anymore). It had a plaque that said it was used by Gounon AND Brabham.

2) Was Brabham's second car (number 5) used later in the season? What happened to 002 at that point?

3) The Simtek at Brooklands Museum (with Cosworth livery) has chassis plate that says "F1 D (display"). Do you think this is NOT Brabham's car? Can it be that one of the race-used cars was changed to a display model and the chassis plate was changed? 

4) What do you know about Simtek cars that were given to Cosworth as payment for debts? Was Brabham's car one of the given cars? The Simtek at Brooklands has Cosworth livery so I was wondering if the white livery could indicate a car given to Cosworth?

5) Where are 002 and 005 now?

[Gary C]

Yes, I'm pretty sure the Simtek on the ceiling at Brooklands was given/is on loan from Cosworth.

[a_tifoosi]

According to this post, back in 2009 there was 'another incomplete S941 in the UK mostly original'.

[Henk Vasmel]

That's very cool info, thanks!

 

What do you think about these points?:

 

1) Car number 4 (chassis 004, fact checked) used to be at Marconi Museum (it is not there anymore). It had a plaque that said it was used by Gounon AND Brabham.

2) Was Brabham's second car (number 5) used later in the season? What happened to 002 at that point?

3) The Simtek at Brooklands Museum (with Cosworth livery) has chassis plate that says "F1 D (display"). Do you think this is NOT Brabham's car? Can it be that one of the race-used cars was changed to a display model and the chassis plate was changed? 

4) What do you know about Simtek cars that were given to Cosworth as payment for debts? Was Brabham's car one of the given cars? The Simtek at Brooklands has Cosworth livery so I was wondering if the white livery could indicate a car given to Cosworth?

5) Where are 002 and 005 now?

1) Car number 4 was raced by Gounon and Schiattarella and Inoue, and practiced but not raced by Brabham at Monza only

2) Indeed, car number 5 appeared in October. Number 2 was not seen anymore (maybe spare tub, not leaving the transporter, or left at the factory?) It's last race in Portugal ended in a crash.

3) I think display cars at not old racing cars, unless they keep their chassis number. changing it would reduce the value a bit, so why do that?

4) No information, so i'm not going to guess anything.

5) I stop following cars after their use as a front-line racing car is over. So I have no clue here too.

[mikeselmer]

Yes, I'm pretty sure the Simtek on the ceiling at Brooklands was given/is on loan from Cosworth.

Is there a way to figure out which Simtek it is (001-005). Chassis plate unfortunately doesn't have the numbering, but instead "F1 D (display)". 001 and 003 were destroyed, and 004 was at Marconi, so if it really is one of 001-005 given to Cosworth, it should be either 002 or 005.

Edited by mikeselmer, 11 March 2025 - 16:19.