AGS JH21C
The AGS JH21C was the first Formula 1 car racing team the Provencal Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives (AGS ). He was based in many aspects on components of Renault and was used twice in the Formula 1 1986 season. The car did not reach finish.
Background
AGS has been active since 1969 in motorsport. Initially, then went to the resident in Gonfaron and products derived from an auto repair shop team in the Formule France Formule Renault respectively, from 1977 in the Formula 2 European Championship. In all classes, AGS built their own racing cars that were designed by Christian Vanderpleyn since 1970. The team founder Henri Julien thought since the late 1970s, repeated after about the rise in the Formula 1. A first attempt this, he undertook in 1979, when a modified Formula 2 AGS under Alain Couderc participated in a course of Aurora F1 Series. Following this, the Formula 1 ambitions in Gonfaron rested first again. However, Henri Julien asked from 1981 several times at Renault after, whether from its Formula 1 team technical support and especially the turbo engines would get. Renault refused several times. As Renault However, the end of 1985 ceased to be available as factory Formula 1 involvement, AGS took over part of the tools and spare parts for the French team. These included several plastic monocoque, suspension parts, brakes and much more. Renault turbo engines did not take over AGS, however. The mechanical components of the Renault team formed the basis for Julien's Formula 1 project, which began in 1986.
Technique of JH21C
The JH21C had a monocoque made of plastic. It was the first time that Vanderpleyn worked with this material; his previous vehicles for AGS had regularly cockpits of aluminum. On the whole, corresponded to the monocoque former Renault designs. Some sources believe AGS used one of the taken over by Renault monocoque. According to other sources Vanderpleyn designed the new monocoque; he had let himself be doing, however, inspired by the Renault Designs. The rear suspension and gearbox were taken over unchanged from the Renault RE60.
Regarding the drive AGS had initially hoped for turbo engines from Renault. After Renault had a delivery but rejected by pointing out that already all available engines for the customer team Ligier, Lotus and Tyrrell would be required Vanderpleyn installed a 1.5 -liter six- cylinder turbo engine from Motori Moderni. It was used engines that had run in 1985 exclusively at Minardi. AGS became the first and only customer team Motori Modernism.
The car was overweight. Officially, his weight was given as 560 kg, but observers have assumed that the actual weight was significantly higher.
AGS presented in the course of 1986 produces a copy of the JH21C, the internal chassis number was 031. It was prepared in the winter of 1986/ 87 for receiving a Cosworth DFZ - motor and, for the first of the two JH22 models.
Nomenclature
The name of the car as JH21C is unusual. AGS gave each model, which was constructed in Gonfaron, its own type; doing a consecutive numbering was chosen. Letters additives were only used when an initial model had been developed much further. From this system, the JH21C makes an exception. JH21 without a letter suffix did not exist; also existed neither a JH21A still a JH21B.
From 2005, a vehicle was on display in a French automobile museum, which was designated as AGS JH21D. It corresponded in its external appearance the JH21C. Factory set forth AGS no car that bore the name JH21D; such a car was reported at any Grand Prix. In the literature, the view has prevailed that it is a replica or a restoration of this car. Mostly is considered that the JH21D from the remains of the first JH22 was built, which in turn was based on the JH21C and was destroyed by Pascal Fabre in an accident during the 1987 season.
Racing applications
AGS debuted with the JH21C the occasion of the Grand Prix of Italy in September 1986. Reason for this start date was the fact that AGS with the Jolly Club sponsor and with an Italian Ivan Capelli was an Italian driver. At its debut race Capelli retired after 31 laps due to a tire defect from. During the subsequent Grand Prix of Portugal, he qualified as well, but had to retire because of a suspension breakage. The following race in Mexico and Australia, the team left out for reasons of cost. Further racing trials of JH21C did not exist.