9 replies to this topic

[Maldwyn]

Trivellato Racing entered a Chevron B40-Ferrari for the first race of the 1977 F2 season but the car did not race (Patrese drove the B35-BMW). Was this an existing powerplant or a new engine for 1977, and was it a fully works supported effort?

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by Maldwyn
Trivellato Racing entered a Chevron B40-Ferrari for the first race of the 1977 F2 season but the car did not race (Patrese drove the B35-BMW). Was this an existing powerplant or a new engine for 1977, and was it a fully works supported effort?

It was a variant of the Dino V6. I seem to recall that Chevron had hell's own time fitting the thing into the B40 - it was wide and had a deep wet-sump that if it was installed at a sensible driveline height was good for little but scraping itself on the ground. Ferrari grumbled when Chevron had a new sump made, went off in a huff, and then came back later with their own sump that was a virtual clone of the Chevron hack.

Patrese and Trivellato became quite closely linked with Chevron at about that time and there was talk that he'd make his GP debut in a Trivellato Chevron-DFV - dunno what relationship (if any) that had to the unfinished F1 that became the Durex-backed Graham Eden-run scholarship car in Aurora.

[Maldwyn]

Thanks for the info and a new line of enquiry

[Mac Lark]

I remember questions being raised at the time as to whether the Ferrari V6 in Leoni's winning Chevron B40.

I suspect these were ill informed on the basis on Leoini's previous record and the fact that the Ferrari never seemed to again shine.

Leoni proved however to be a very capable driver for many years after that success.

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by Mac Lark
I remember questions being raised at the time as to whether the Ferrari V6 in Leoni's winning Chevron B40.

I suspect these were ill informed on the basis on Leoini's previous record and the fact that the Ferrari never seemed to again shine.

Leoni proved however to be a very capable driver for many years after that success.

The engines were what? Somewhat larger than 2.0l?

Leoni wasn't bad - he was around the scene up to F3000 level for a long time, I think he was later involved in FIRST racing and I seem to recall he died in a powerboat accident?

[David M. Kane]

This car has run several times at Watkins Glen in Historic races. I last saw it at last year's Zippo GP. It didn't seem to have too much steam.

[eldougo]

RALT also ran two FERRARI dino powered cars in1977 one for Brncatelli & Leoni under the
Scuderia Everest team . They where built in the old RAT factory in Woking buy the crew which
included myself ,they where a big /overweight /an top heavy motor ,just the right thing for
racing (i think not) anyway we had a hell off time fitting them into the back of the RT-1 ,they
where not very good the hole back end used to bend.
They where taken to Ferrari test track where we found out the problems in the radius arms
once that was fixed they began to get some results ,but as you say DAVID they where not
fast ,however a good SOUND .

[Mac Lark]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by petefenelon



[B]The engines were what? Somewhat larger than 2.0l?


That was the suggestion.

Ferrari afterall had some experience with 2.4 litre V6s.

Its about as pointless giving it credability as the rumours about 3.3 litre V12 BRMs.

[eldougo]

Sorry, DAVID i forget we where told they where 2 LITER an i except that they where a VERY HEAVY motor i know after lifting them in & out a few times !!!

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by eldougo
RALT also ran two FERRARI dino powered cars in1977 one for Brncatelli & Leoni under the Scuderia Everest team .

And Elio de Angelis for a few races I see from Stefan Örnerdal's site