At the end of 1975, the Shadow team faced major setbacks as its primary sponsor, UOP, withdrew, and there were no solid plans for the future. These difficulties prompted the team’s legendary designer, Tony Southgate, to leave for Lotus. Back in late 1972, Shadow Racing Cars founder Don Nichols had approached Southgate to design a Formula 1 car to compete in the 1973 World Championship. Shadow had already been involved in the Can-Am sports car series for nearly two years, and with UOP’s sponsorship, Nichols was planning an entry into Formula 1. The Coventry-born engineer accepted the challenge, designing and building Shadow’s first Formula 1 prototype, the Shadow DN1, in his garage in Lincolnshire, England. However, production was soon moved to the United States, where Southgate also relocated.
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| SHADOW DN8, Tom Pryce Zandvoort, Dutch GP 1976 |
After a series of disappointing seasons, Southgate took the initiative to start designing the new DN8 as early as mid-1975, well in advance, with the aim of bringing it to the track in 1976. However, his departure left Shadow with an unfinished project, forcing the team to continue racing with the older DN5 models in 1976. These cars were slightly updated to DN5B specification by Dave Wass, who had joined Shadow after Southgate’s exit. While the DN5B’s reliability improved significantly compared to the 1975 version, its performance lagged behind the top contenders.
SHADOW DN8, Tom Pryce
Fuji, Japanese GP 1976
In response, Wass took charge of finalizing the DN8’s development, a car originally conceived by Southgate for the start of the 1976 season. The new Shadow DN8 featured an especially low monocoque chassis, two side-mounted radiators, and an oil radiator positioned in the nose, though it was later relocated. After an unsuccessful attempt to use a Matra V12 engine on the DN7, Shadow returned to the reliable Ford-Cosworth DFV V8, paired with a five-speed Hewland TL gearbox.
SHADOW DN8, Tom Pryce
Monza, Italian GP 1976
The DN8 made its debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, the 12th round of the 1976 championship, with Tom Pryce as the sole driver. The Welshman delivered an impressive performance, finishing fourth on his first outing. However, in the remaining four races, the DN8 struggled to compete beyond midfield positions. Due to limited funding, Shadow was unable to assemble a second DN8, forcing the team’s other driver, Jean-Pierre Jarier, to complete the season in the older DN5B, which yielded no notable results. By the end of the season, Shadow secured eighth place in the Constructors' Championship, with all 10 of its points scored by Pryce.
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