Tec-Mec
Tec -Mec Automobili was an Italian racing car constructor from Modena, among other things, produced a vehicle for the Formula 1 1959. The car participated only in a racing event.
Company History
The company initially called Studio Technica Meccanica was founded in 1958 by engineer Valerio Colotti. Colotti had been busy until 1957 at Maserati, where he had designed parts of the successful Formula 1 model Maserati 250F. After Maserati had given up his factory sided formula 1 activities in late 1957, is Colotti decided to set up their own company that would develop and produce commissioned work components for motorsports. Among the first works Colottis included developing a Formula 1 gearbox, which was used in 1959 by the British team Rob Walker Racing Stirling Moss.
1958 commissioned the Italian privateer Giorgio Scarlatti, who was looking for a successor to its outdated Maserati 250 F, Colottis Studio Technica Meccanica with the development of a new racing car. Colotti started work before they could be completed, however, Colotti sold his business to the American George Pennington and the Swiss Hans Tanner, who changed the company's name in Tec -Mec Automobili. While Colotti then together with Alf Francis, the company Gear Speed Developments ( later: Colotti Trasmissioni ) founded, Pennington and Tanner continued the construction of the initiated by Colotti Formula 1 car with the help of a mechanic Giuseppe Consoli. The Tec -Mec 415 called car was completed in late summer of 1959 and then awarded to an American team, which reported him to a Formula 1 race. Here, the car delivered disappointing results. Tec Mec presented then the formula 1 efforts. Later, the company designed another car for the Formula Junior, which was powered by a Fiat engine. Also, this vehicle was not convincing. Tec -Mec presented alerted the operation.
The Tec -Mec 415
In the design of the Tec -Mec 415 Colotti pursued the goal of an easier, more effective version of the initially very successful Maserati 250F to develop. Initial reflections on this had made during his time at Maserati Colotti; after founding his own company, he continued such developments. Conceptually similar to the Tec Mec 415 the Maserati 250F. The car was based on a tube frame; However, he used smaller pipe than the Maserati. All wheels were individually suspended. Was powered by a Maserati engine, which was installed at the front. The front-engine concept was conservative; 1959, was presented as the Tec -Mec 415 cars from Cooper had already asked the superiority of the mid-engine concept to the test. The Tec -Mec had independent suspension on all four wheels.
The Tec -Mec mechanic Consoli built the 415 during the year 1959. In late summer 1959, the car was completed. Bob Said, Piero Drogo, Joakim Bonnier and Giorgio Scarlatti conducted the first tests, kept the car in its original condition but not consistently for the car for racing. A message of the car for the Grand Prix of Italy 1959 was subsequently withdrawn.
After a quick revision of the chassis, the American team Camoradi Racing took over the Tec Mec 415 and reported him to the U.S. Grand Prix in 1959, the Sebring International Raceway on was held in Florida in December 1959. As a driver of Fritz d' Orey was obliged Brazilians, who was known to Pennington, but had only limited experience in Grand Prix racing. During the qualifying round at Sebring the Tec -Mec 415 suffered a piston failure, so not enough compression was built on two cylinders. D' Orey reached with the damaged vehicle a qualifying time that was more than 33 seconds over that of the pole driver Stirling Moss lap time. He went as the 17th of 19 drivers in the race and retired after eight laps after his engine had suffered a total loss.
The car was once used in a high-speed drive outside of Formula 1. Again, the Tec -Mec 415 suffered an engine failure. Tec -Mec was the car on then. It stood for many years in Tom Wheat Crafts race car collection at Donington Park.