Protos (constructor)

Protos was a British racing car manufacturer in the formula 2

Protos presented in 1967 a race car for the class of formula 2 ago. The order came from Ron Harris team, the idea to build by Brian Hart. In Protos, the innovative designer Frank Costin, who occupied himself early on with the problems of aerodynamics on racing cars worked.

The design of the Protos was bold and unconventional. Although Costin chose for the monocoque composite construction made ​​of plywood, which was reinforced by metal carrier, the lines were but extremely streamlined. Bold and innovative, the full enclosure of the cockpit was through a Plexiglas dome that gave the vehicles with their distinctive appearance. The small FVA engine was driven by an auxiliary tubular frame. The front had aerodynamic fairings that extended from the suspension to the characteristic windscreen in front of the cockpit. The Sperrholzmonocoque was constructed by Costin such a way that it was designed as a safety cell, all technical components were only tacked. From this unusual for that time construction Pedro Rodríguez benefited at the last round of the championship in Sicilian Enna, as he was lying, touched by the following Beltoise to Matra in leadership and the Protos was smashed against a barrier, with the driver's cell remained intact and Rodriguez this unharmed could emerge.

The car was much too heavy and initially had too much ground clearance. In the 1967 season he was (among other things with Kurt Ahrens at the helm ) but quite competitive. In most cases, there were engine damage sensitive Cosworth FVA engine that led to the premature termination of the Protos. At a victory in a round of the Formula 2 European Championship it was not enough. Best result was a second place in the race at Hockenheim.

Driver on Protos in the Formula 2 season in 1967 and early 1968 were some world class pilots that time: Éric Offenstadt (F) Brian Hart ( GB ), Kurt Ahrens ( D), Pedro Rodriguez ( MEX) and Vic Elford ( GB).