During the winter between the 1978 and 1979 seasons, the Arrows team, based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, assembled three completely new chassis. These were revised and improved to address the handling and reliability issues of the 1978 A1. Although these new cars retained the fundamental construction scheme of the A1, many believed they were entirely new vehicles, particularly in terms of a stiffer chassis and revised aerodynamics. The sidepods were redesigned to better exploit ground effect.
 |
| ARROWS A2, Jochen Mass Zandvoort, Dutch GP 1979 |
For the first seven races of the 1979 season, Arrows entered its cars under the name Arrows A1B, with Italian driver Riccardo Patrese and German Jochen Mass behind the wheel. Visually, the car closely resembled the previous version, and its results remained disappointing. The A1B managed only three points, coming after five races of “break-in” struggles. Meanwhile, technical director Tony Southgate and designer Dave Wass were hard at work developing what was, on paper, a revolutionary car: the Arrows A2.
 |
| ARROWS A1B, Jochen Mass Interlagos, Brazilian GP 1979 |
From an aesthetic standpoint, the A2 was one of the most striking, captivating, and original cars ever built, undoubtedly the most famous creation of the Southgate-Wass duo. The extreme approach to ground-effect exploitation resulted in a car similar to Colin Chapman’s Lotus 80, with a "cigar-shaped" body, prompting the ever-witty British press to nickname it the "rolling cigar".
 |
| ARROWS A2, Jochen Mass Dijon-Prenois, French GP 1979 |
It had a rounded nose and no front wings, as the suspension fairings performed their function instead. The elongated sidepods extended to incorporate a very low rear wing positioned just behind the rear axle. However, the most distinctive feature of the new car was its engine-gearbox assembly, using the traditional Cosworth-Hewland package, which was mounted at a 4° upward inclination rather than parallel to the chassis. This allowed for taller diffuser tunnels.
 |
| ARROWS A2, Riccardo Patrese Österreichring, GP d'Austria 1979 |
The A2’s development was long and difficult, and it only made its debut at the French Grand Prix, the eighth race of the season. Despite its impressive downforce, which allowed it to stick to the track, the A2 proved extremely difficult to drive, unmanageable, and ultimately uncompetitive. Its only noteworthy results were two sixth-place finishes by Mass in Germany and the Netherlands. Patrese even opted to return to the older A1B for the final races, considering it superior to the new car. For Arrows, the 1979 season ended with just five points, only two of which were scored with the A2, placing the British team ninth in the constructors' standings.
Comments
Post a Comment