Rial ARC2

Rial ARC2
Category Formula One
Constructor Rial Racing
Designer(s) Stefan Fober
Predecessor Rial ARC1
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Carbon fibre/Kevlar monocoque
Axle track Front: 1,800 mm (71 in)
Rear: 1,600 mm (63 in)
Wheelbase 2,800 mm (110 in)
Engine Ford-Cosworth DFR 3,494 cc (213.2 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Rial 6-speed manual
Weight 500 kg (1,100 lb)
Fuel STP
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants Rial Racing
Notable drivers Germany Christian Danner
Switzerland Gregor Foitek
France Bertrand Gachot
France Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Germany Volker Weidler
Debut 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
4000
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0

The Rial ARC2 was a Formula One racing car manufactured and raced by Rial Racing for the 1989 Formula One season. It was powered by a Cosworth DFR V8 engine. Its best finish was at the 1989 United States Grand Prix when Christian Danner drove it to fourth place.

Development

Rial Racing had run the tidy Rial ARC1, designed by Gustav Brunner, in 1988 and had scored three points with it. For 1989, a new chassis, largely based on the previous year's car and designated the ARC2, was designed by Stefan Fober. A total of three chassis were built for the year.[2]

Racing history

Having run a single car for Andrea de Cesaris the previous season, Rial Racing expanded to two entries for 1989. De Cesaris had moved to BMS Scuderia Italia for 1989 and was replaced with the relatively experienced German Christian Danner. Driving the second car was Formula One novice Volker Weidler.[1]

Danner comfortably qualified his ARC2 17th on the grid at the season opening Brazilian Grand Prix and went on to be classified 14th in the race itself despite retiring with gear box issues. This proved to be the car's best qualifying performance all year; from hereon both drivers would struggle to qualify (pre-qualify in Weidler's case). Danner only managed to qualify for three more races, all in the early part of the season. He finished 12th in Monaco[1] but followed this up at the next race in the United States with a finish in the points. From last on the grid, and benefiting from an attrition afflicted race, Danner finished in fourth place.[2] At the next race he placed eighth but this proved to be the last classification for the ARC2.[1]

Danner failed to make the grid for the next seven races and left the team after the Portuguese Grand Prix. His replacements, first Gregor Foitek for one race and Bertrand Gachot for the last two races of the year, both failed to make the race proper. Weidler, in the other car, did not pre-qualify for nine races and was excluded from a tenth. He was replaced by Pierre-Henri Raphanel who did not fare any better.[1]

Danner's three points scored in the United States saw Rial Racing place 13th in the Constructors' Championship.[1] Following the end of the season, the team withdrew from Formula One.[2]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts. WCC
1989 Rial Racing Ford DFZ 3.5 V8 G BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 3 13th
Christian Danner 14* DNQ DNQ 12 4 8 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
Volker Weidler DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ EX DNQ
Pierre-Henri Raphanel DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
Gregor Foitek DNQ
Bertrand Gachot DNQ DNQ

* classified but not running at finish

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rial ARC2 @ StatsF1
  2. 1 2 3 Nye, 1992, p. 313

References

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