Simtek

© P-H Cahier / F1-photo.com

Simtek Grand Prix was one of two new teams on the grid for the opening race of 1994. Team boss Nick Wirth who was 28 was the youngest team owner in F1 history and also the driving force behind the design and engineering of the team.

The name Simtek was an amalgamation of the worlds “simulated technology” which also adorned the sister company Simtek Research formed in 1989 between Wirth and Max Mosley. Clients of Simtek Research included the FIA and major companies participating in motor racing.

The racing team itself started during a period where buying off the shelf chassis was no longer possible. Instead, the team had to build the chassis from scratch (contracting out was permitted) which had become incredibly expensive such was the sophistication of the materials used in the construction of a racing car. At this time the budget for a leading team would be in excess of £20 million excluding free works engines, but Simtek operated in the region of £5 million. Things were tight and the team was kept small with just 35 people.

A key signing was Australian David Brabham son of triple world champion Jack Brabham. Jack Brabham bought shares in the team and leant his experience. Alongside the Aussie driver Wirth employed Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger.

Powered by customer Ford HB engines and sponsored by MTV the purple and black car looked stunning when it appeared at season opener. The car however was not quick and Brabham finished 12th while Ratzenberger failed to qualify. The following race at Aida saw both cars qualify but this time only Ratzenberger finished the race with an eleventh place while Brabham retired.

Sadly, Simtek was the first team to suffer a fatality for twelve years when Roland Ratzenberger’s car failed to negotiate the flat out Villeneuve Curva at Imola. On the prior lap the Simtek had briefly left the circuit and unbeknown to either the team nor the driver the trip had weakened the front wing. On the run up to the corner and at top speed the wing parted with the car robbing it of downforce and the car hit a concrete retaining wall at around 190mph. Ratzenberger suffered a basal skull fracture and despite on track CPR the situation was hopeless.

In the past the team would, as a matter of custom, withdraw the sister car and from the event. However, Brabham saw the despair on the team members faces decided to continue to try and lift spirits. Brabham later retired from the race.

Simtek replaced Ratzenberger at the Spanish Grand Prix with Andrea Montermini who was also involved in a massive crash during practice. This time however fortune was on his side  and he escaped with just a slight ankle injury. The prognosis for the team was not as good with another wrecked chassis piling pressure on to the cash-strapped team.

Frenchman Jean-Marc Gounon was then signed alongside Brabham and achieved the teams best result at his home Grand Prix with 9th in Magny-Cours. Brabham also had some good results with 10th in Barcelona and a total of six race finishes.

Gounon lasted until Portugal where he was replaced by Italian Domenico Schiatterella who competed at Jerez and Adelaide. Japanese driver Taki Inoue took the seat for Suzuka.

© P-H Cahier / F1-photo.com

Brabham left the team at the end of 1995 to race in the BTCC which was a blow to the team but that didn’t stop them starting 1995 with a bang. Jos Verstappen joined after a stint driving as a Michael Schumacher number two (and almost being burned alive in a pit stop fire) joining Schiatterella. The S951 flew in Verstappens hands where he qualified 14th in Argentina before retiring while the sister car finished 9th.

Sadly, money grew ever tighter and refinements too frequent. The team folded after Monaco despite their existing backers pledging more money and the team being allowed to miss one race as they searched for backers. Wirth moved to Benetton and F1 lost one of the best looking cars on the grid.