AGS JH22

The AGS JH22 was a Formula 1 racing car the Provencal teams Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives (AGS ), which was used in the 1987 Formula 1 season. It was based technically on its predecessor, the AGS JH21C, but was - unlike the latter - powered by a naturally aspirated engine. With the AGS JH22 scored his first World Championship point in Formula 1

Technology

The AGS JH22 was like all AGS race cars before a construction Christian Vanderpleyns. Apart from the drive technology, the JH22 was identical to the JH21C. He used the same monocoque, the same suspension and brakes the same as the JH21C, which in turn were based on Renault technology and partly now four years old were. The external modifications included, among other things, lower side boxes. Vanderpleyn changed the design of the engine cover in the course of the season several times. Initially the car was wearing a rectangular air box that was installed on a stand over the engine cover. Later this outdated -looking structure was replaced by a low, boxy airbox, which ranged over the entire width of the engine.

The JH22 was powered by a 3.0-liter eight-cylinder naturally aspirated Cosworth (type DFZ ), its use was permitted again since 1987. The engine was prepared by Heini Mader Racing Components in Switzerland.

The JH22 was the slowest car of the grid in 1987, but showed an above-average reliability.

Copies

AGS presented during the 1987 season was two vehicles of the type JH22. The first one, which was used early in the season, was the same as the used in the previous year JH21C ( chassis number 031). The JH21C was adapted to the new normally aspirated engine used and was given a new chassis number ( 032). His driver Pascal Fabre damaged the car in an accident on the Ring Austria so heavy that it could no longer be used for the rest of the season. It was built many years later and is now exhibited as AGS JH21C Manoir de l'Automobile in Breton Lohéac.

In the summer of 1987, a second copy of the JH22 ( chassis number 033) was built. It was originally intended for a second driver; after Fabre had but destroyed the first JH22, it was from the Italian Grand Prix, the sole use car of the team. The JH22 ( 033) in 1989 for receiving a W - 12 engine Moteurs Guy Nègre of ( MGN ) rebuilt. After a deconstruction This vehicle is now in Lohéac.

Racing applications

AGS JH22 put the one to all races of the 1987 season. The only driver was initially Pascal Fabre, who qualified on a regular basis until late summer and also numerous target arrivals reached, regularly but managed only very slow lap times and was mostly lapped several times. An exception was only the Grand Prix of France, as Fabre went on the Mistral straight of the Circuit Paul Ricard with the fastest time of all naturally aspirated vehicles. After Fabre had failed to qualify in the early fall of 1987 twice, he was replaced for the final two races of the season by Roberto Moreno. Moreno arrived at the Grand Prix of Australia as seventh to the finish. Since the pre-placed Ayrton Senna was disqualified as a result of the violation of his car, Moreno was considered a sixth. He earned the team's first World Championship point in his Formula 1 history. This placement meant that AGS was not subject to pre-qualification in the following season.

1987 also limited to Saugmotorfahrzeuge rating was made, called Colin Chapman Cup. AGS was third this brand standings behind Tyrrell and Larrousse.

Results

The JH22 with MGN - motor

In early 1989, received the second JH22 ( chassis number 033 ) has a W - 12 engine Moteurs Guy Nègre of ( MGN ). Guy Nègre, the MGN - founder, had constructed an independent twelve-cylinder engine with three banks of cylinders and rotary valves instead of valves. In the course of 1988 Nègre undertook numerous bench tests, and in 1989 was the engine undergo a practical test. To this end, he gave a an engine block in the second JH22, the AGS had provided.

The test drives took place in September 1989 at the Circuit Automobile du Grand Sambuc, a two- kilometer circuit near Aix -en- Provence. The driver mentioned MGN unnamed; the press release spoke only of a " regional test pilots ". The magazine reported Autohebdo its output 602 that the test driver Philippe Billot said. Under the name Philippe Billot are in the message lists smaller race classes for the 1970s and 1980s, no entries found. Nothing has been published about the results of the tests; neither the number of laps, the lap times were known. The tests were not likely to arouse the interest of a team to Nègres motor, so that the MGN W12 did not find the way to Formula 1. However, in 1990 he was shortly brought with a racing sports car by Norma Auto Concept in connection, which should take the 24-hour race at Le Mans in 1990.