Fondmetal GR01
The Fondmetal Fomet 1 was a Formula 1 car of the Italian racing team Fondmetal Corse, which was used in the Formula 1 1991 season. The following year, the team brought the car technically hardly changed under the name Fondmetal GR01 at the start.
Fomet
The Fomet 1 was constructed in the early months of 1991 in the UK by the company Fomet employees. Responsible engineers were Tino Belli and Tim Holloway, some detail work was later done by Richard Divila.
Fomet was initially closely associated with the team Fondmetal Corse. Fondmetal, a Gabriele Rumi belonging Italian wheel manufacturer, had been a longtime sponsor of the Turin racing team Osella in the 1980s. Fondmetal had taken over the financial and technical ailing team in late 1990, and since then Gabriele Rumi tried to professionalize the technical basis of the team.
At the beginning of the new naturally aspirated era there was a general perception that the UK's best Motorsport engineers worked and the highest density was at suppliers' factories. This resulted in the view that there the best Formula 1 cars were constructed. In this regard, founded many continental European Formula 1 teams offices in the UK, which took place in at least parts of car development. This was true for top teams like the Scuderia Ferrari as well as for small teams. Also Fondmetal took this development by: Gabriele Rumi founded in late 1990 in Bicester, the company Fomet, which was predominantly occupied by British engineers. Fomet was housed in the premises of March Engineering and was initially supervised by the former March engineer Robin Herd. In this time of Fomet was first
After just one year, there was a rift between Fomet and Fondmetal. Fomet began in late 1991 to do work for other teams. Rumi rejected the expansion of activities and announced the collaboration with Fomet, although there had already begun for the 1992 season, the development of the Fondmetal cars. Fomet continued the development work on the car alone continued and eventually sold the design to the French team Larrousse, which it began in 1992 under the name Venturi LC92. Fondmetal announced the construction of its cars in the 1992 another factory in order. The realization of the GR02 -called new vehicle was delayed due to the reorientation until the spring of 1992.
Technology
The Fomet 1 is usually described in the literature as a simple, uncomplicated car that bore some characteristics of the last Osella construction from 1989 in it. The aerodynamics had been newly developed, was the monocoque narrower than its predecessor. The suspension was conservative and consisted completely of push rods. She was equipped with an eight-cylinder engine from Cosworth. Fondmetal took over doing some of the prepared Hart Racing Engines Motors, which had previously been used in the successful Tyrrell 019. The transmission took place via a system developed by Fondmetal six-speed gearbox, which - was mounted transversely - unlike in the predecessor.
For the 1992 season, the drive technology has been replaced. Instead of last year's Cosworth engine type DRF used the GR01 an eight-cylinder engine of the HB series. These were the engines that had been used at Benetton in 1991. His performance is given by some sources with 645 hp, others go from 730 hp.
Fondmetal put forth two drivers, model Fomet 1 for the 1991 season.
1991 season
At the start of the 1991 season, designers and mechanics had the Fomet 1 is not yet completed. The team played the first two races with the acquisition of Osella Osella model FA1ME who took it in his third season.
The Fomet 1 debuted at the first European race, the Grand Prix of San Marino 1991. At this time he was not yet mature. Before the race weekend, it had only been a short function test; detailed coordination work, however, was not yet occurred. In the course of the season followed a few more test drives. You and the work Divilas Richard, who was been joined as technical director of the team in the spring of 1991, helped to improve the initial lack of reliability of the car one by one.
Fondmetal 1991 reported only a driver. Initially drove Olivier Grouillard for the team; for the last three races of the year he was replaced by Gabriele Tarquini. Fondmetal 1991 was not successful with the Fomet 1. In 14 attempts, the team could only qualify six times; seven times it was eliminated already in the pre-qualification. There were only three target arrivals throughout the year. The best result was Grouillards tenth place at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991.
1992 season
Due to the break with Fomet the development of the car for the 1992 season was considerably delayed. Unlike planned, Fondmetal therefore had to start the new season with last year's car. To document the separation of Fomet outwardly received the Fomet 1 for 1992, a new designation: he was henceforth called GR01. The term spread to the initials of team owner Gabriele Rumi. Technically corresponded to the GR01 complete the Fomet 1 alone, the change from DFR to HB- made motors some changes in the engine environment necessary.
In 1992, Fondmetal a two cars. Drivers were Gabriele Tarquini and Andrea Chiesa. Tarquini drove the GR01 to the Monaco Grand Prix. In these four races he was able to qualify regularly, but dropped out early each. Then Tarquini set up the new GR02.
Chiesa drove the GR01 to the Grand Prix of Great Britain. Although he had been a week before received a GR02 at the race in France; However, he damaged the car rebuilt at a starting accident so severe that it took until the race on the Hockenheimring until the new car was restored. Chiesa came in 1992 not a single time to the finish.