The heavy debt accumulated by the Minardi team in 1991, due to the expensive supply of Ferrari engines and the loss of the Pioneer sponsorship, a termination instigated by the Maranello team itself despite Giancarlo Minardi having secured the deal with Pioneer, forced the small Faenza-based team to face the 1992 season under a proverbial sword of Damocles. For the new season, Minardi decided to rely on Lamborghini for the supply of the V12 3512 engine, designed by engineer Mauro Forghieri and previously used in '91 by Ligier and the Modena Team single-seaters managed by Forghieri himself.
 |
| MINARDI M192, Gianni Morbidelli Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP 1992 |
Using the Lamborghini V12 allowed the Faenza team to save about 20% on engine costs, but despite this, the severe cash shortage did not allow engineer Aldo Costa, still the team’s technical director, to promptly complete the new M192. The season looked to be a tough one, and Minardi was initially forced to field the previous year’s car, renamed M191B and updated to accommodate the new Lamborghini engine.
 |
| MINARDI M191B, Christian Fittipaldi Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexican GP 1992 |
Alongside confirmed Italian driver Gianni Morbidelli, the team fielded Brazilian rookie Christian Fittipaldi, nephew of two-time World Champion Emerson and reigning Formula 3000 champion. More importantly, Fittipaldi brought with him a $1.5 million budget, vital for the development of the new car. The M192 was again designed by Aldo Costa, with aerodynamic support from engineer Rene Hilhorst, but with limited funds available, it was only a modest evolution of the previous M191. Despite a stiffer and improved chassis, the car still suffered from the same aerodynamic and reliability issues seen in the previous season. Driveability was also hampered not only by the excessive weight of the Lamborghini V12 but by a complicated front suspension design, partially resolved following the intervention of Gustav Brunner, who joined the team toward the end of the season and introduced minor adjustments that nonetheless improved the car’s handling.
 |
| MINARDI M192, Alex Zanardi Hockenheimring, German GP 1992 |
Another problem for the Faenza team was the engine’s low power output, barely reaching 650 hp, significantly lower than the top competitors’ engines. However, starting from the Italian Grand Prix, the team received updated "B-spec" engines capable of delivering a few extra horsepower. In terms of results, the season started poorly, with both Morbidelli and Fittipaldi retiring three times each in the first four races, all contested with the old M191B. Even after the debut of the new M192 at Imola during the San Marino Grand Prix, results did not improve, although better reliability allowed the cars to see the checkered flag more often. Fittipaldi was also involved in a serious accident during practice for the French Grand Prix, forcing him to miss the next three races, during which he was replaced by Italian driver Alex Zanardi.
 |
| MINARDI M192, Gianni Morbidelli Hockenheimring, German GP 1992 |
Only after Brunner's involvement did things slightly improve, and in the final races the car regained some competitiveness, with Fittipaldi securing the team's only points finish of the season, a sixth place at the Japanese Grand Prix. Minardi concluded the season with just one point, ranking twelfth in the Constructors' Championship.
Comments
Post a Comment