| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Footwork Arrows | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Alan Jenkins | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1][2] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre and Kevlar monocoque | ||||||||
| Engine | FA12: mid-engine, longitudinally mounted, 3,499 cc (213.5 cu in), Porsche 3512, 80° V12, NA FA12C: mid-engine, longitudinally mounted, 3,493 cc (213.2 cu in), Ford DFR, 90° V8, NA |
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| Transmission | Hewland Transverse 6-speed semi-automatic | ||||||||
| Fuel | Shell | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Footwork Grand Prix International | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 9. Michele Alboreto 10. Alex Caffi 10. Stefan Johansson |
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| Debut | 1991 San Marino Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Footwork FA12 was a Formula One car designed and built by the Footwork Arrows team for the 1991 season. The number 9 car was driven by Michele Alboreto and the number 10 car was shared by Alex Caffi and Stefan Johansson. The team had no test driver.
The team started the season with the Porsche 3512 3.5 litre V12 engine, but by the French Grand Prix, had switched to the Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5 litre V8 engine, in a modified version of the car designated the FA12C.[3]
The Porsche 3512 was intended for the new Footwork FA12, but the size and bulk of the engine meant the car had to be re-designed to install it properly,[4] so the 1990-based car called the A11C was used for the first three race meetings.[5] Both Michele Alboreto and Alex Caffi failed to qualify for the United States GP, but Alboreto managed to qualify the car at Interlagos until retiring from the race. Alboreto also qualified for the San Marino GP, but failed to qualify for the Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix. Alex Caffi failed to qualify for the next three events, and was replaced for the North American rounds after sustaining injuries from a road accident.[6] Stefan Johansson took his place at Canada, qualifying for the race but retiring with an engine failure. Stefan failed to qualify for the Mexican GP, which ultimately be the last appearance of the Porsche 3512 engine at a World Championship event.
One reason the Porsche engine was so uncompetitive was the weight of engine; when items like the clutch, flywheel, and other ancillaries were installed, it weighed 418 pounds, compared to the Ferrari V12 (308 lb.) and the Honda V12 (352 lb.) racing at the same time. The novel method of drawing power from the center of the engine led to oil pressure problems.[7]
By the time the Footwork team appeared at the French Grand Prix, the team switched back to the Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 engines for the rest of the year, in a modified version of the car designated the FA12C.[3]
(key)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Driver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Footwork Arrows | FA12 | Porsche 3512 V12 |
G | USA | BRA | SMR | MON | CAN | MEX | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 0 | NC | |
| Michele Alboreto | Ret | Ret | Ret | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Caffi | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Stefan Johansson | Ret | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| FA12C | Ford DFR V8 |
Michele Alboreto | Ret | Ret | DNQ | DNQ | DNPQ | DNQ | 15 | Ret | DNQ | 13 | |||||||||||
| Stefan Johansson | DNQ | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Caffi | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | DNPQ | 10 | 15 |
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