The 1988 season for the Arrows team continued in line with the previous year, aiming to capitalize on the great potential shown by the A10 in 1987, which was upgraded to the “B” version for the '88 season. The single-seater, designed by Ross Brawn, proved to be an excellent car, although it was often held back by mechanical failures related to vibrations from the Megatron engine, a unit derived from BMW’s once-competitive M12/13 1.5 L4 turbo, based on a project that by then was several years old.
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| ARROWS A18B, Eddie Cheever Monza, Italian GP 1988 |
To resolve the engine issues, Swiss engineer Heini Mader, responsible for preparing the Megatron power unit, brought in former BMW engineer Gerdt Schuman. Schuman succeeded in improving the reliability of the German turbo engine, although the main issue associated with the Bavarian four-cylinder remained: turbo lag, or more precisely, the delayed throttle response. On fast circuits, this problem was manageable, but on twisty tracks, drivers were forced to accelerate even before reaching the apex, only to have the power surge kick in abruptly, more like an on/off switch than a normal throttle.
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| ARROWS A18B, Derek Warwick Monza, Italian GP 1988 |
Another issue with the German engine was the pop-off valve mandated by the FIA to limit boost pressure. Already in 1987, Mader faced problems with the valve opening well before the regulatory limit of 4 bar, resulting in significant power loss during acceleration. For the 1988 season, the valves were calibrated at 2.5 bar, but the issue persisted for the Megatron engines, with the valve activating around 2.3 bar, causing a power loss of more than 40 hp. The problem was only resolved near the end of the season by relocating the valve lower down in relation to the turbo, which allowed it to function correctly. As a result, the Megatron engine was finally able to deliver a respectable output of about 640 hp, enabling the Milton Keynes cars to achieve the highest top speed at the Monza circuit, reaching 322 km/h, faster even than Ferrari and McLaren, the two teams dominating the 1988 championship.
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| ARROWS A10B, Eddie Cheever Detroit, United States GP 1988 |
The new Arrows A10B could finally showcase its potential, thanks to Ross Brawn’s development work. Using the same carbon fiber monocoque chassis as the previous car, Brawn improved the push-rod suspension system's response to stresses, making the vehicle more stable. The aerodynamic design was also refined, featuring very clean lines, and internal airflow within the sidepods was optimized, reducing drag and enhancing top speed. The A10B turned out to be highly competitive and consistently close to the leading teams in terms of race results.
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| ARROWS A10B, Eddie Cheever Silverstone, British GP 1988 |
Drivers Eddie Cheever and Derek Warwick constantly battled near the front, and Cheever’s podium finish at Monza was the crowning achievement of Arrows’ best season in its history. The 23 points scored in 1988 and the fourth place in the Constructors' Championship were largely thanks to Warwick’s consistency, as he finished in the points seven times. Unfortunately, this season also marked the end of the turbo era and the eve of a major technical revolution that would heavily reshuffle the competitive order, forcing the team led by Jackie Oliver to start again from scratch.
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