APOLLON-FLY Ford Cosworth DFV

   Among the many individuals who attempted the adventure of Formula 1 with their own means, Swiss driver Loris Kessel from the Canton of Ticino deserves a special mention. After a brief and unsuccessful F1 debut in 1976 with the RAM team, where he participated in five Grands Prix driving a Brabham BT44B without achieving notable results, Kessel decided to establish his own racing team in 1977: Apollon.

APOLLON-FLY, Loris Kessel
Monza, Italian GP 1977

   With the support of the Jolly Club of Switzerland, he purchased an old 1974 ISO-Williams FW03 powered by a Ford Cosworth DFV engine. The car, already outdated, underwent no significant modifications before being entered into the nearest race to Switzerland, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. However, the organizers rejected his entry due to the car’s outdated model. In response, Kessel enlisted engineers Giacomo Caliri and Luigi Marmiroli from Fly Studio in Modena—future designers of Minardi—to update the car’s aerodynamics to meet new regulations. The result was the Apollon-Fly, featuring a larger rear wing and bodywork modifications to improve downforce.

APOLLON-FLY, Loris Kessel
Monza, Italian GP 1977

   With the car finally compliant, Kessel managed to enter the Monza race. However, due to the large number of entries and the delayed approval of his application, his small Swiss team was not allocated a proper pit space. As a result, the team was forced to operate outdoors, without adequate facilities.

APOLLON-FLY, Loris Kessel
Monza, Italian GP 1977

   The Apollon-Fly made its debut directly in qualifying, having never run on track before, and set the 33rd fastest time, failing to qualify for the race. Despite being over eight seconds off James Hunt’s pole position, Kessel still managed to be quicker than Giorgio Francia, who participated as a wildcard in a Brabham-Alfa Romeo.

APOLLON-FLY, Loris Kessel
Monza, Italian GP 1977

   The appearance of the Apollon-Fly at Monza remained a one-off in Formula 1 history—the car was never entered in another Grand Prix. Nevertheless, Loris Kessel continued to be a prominent figure in the motorsport world, becoming a key player in the Swiss high-performance and racing car industry. He went on to establish one of the country’s most prestigious Ferrari and Maserati dealerships. Although brief, his Formula 1 venture remains one of the many fascinating stories that have enriched the legend of the pinnacle of motorsport.