They are imposing and magnificent. Then, the sound of engines with more than 500 hp, the aromas that they leave in the air and the colors of the brands of the time provide an exciting show that leaves no one indifferent. no need to be oil or motorsports fan to be impressed by this generation of F1 cars that today represent an invaluable legacy.

Differences in design, influenced by advances in aerodynamics, characterize these single-seaters that retain the original colors and logos, celebrating the diversity of times gone by, when cars were not as identical as they are today.

the weekend of October 07 to 09, 2022, the Estoril Circuit, in Cascais, will host the 6th edition of the Estoril Classics. The program has 15 races and the formation of 11 starting grids, the highlight of the event being the two Classic F1 races, with single-seaters produced until 1986, in which we will see (or review) 18 iconic Formula 1 models. , back in action.

These cars have long since reached retirement age. Worthy of inclusion in the collection of any motoring museum, these cars refuse to age and continue to show what they are capable of in their natural habitat. His place is on the track, defying time and gravity.

lotus 91, WilliamsFW08 Y Lightweight JS11 are some of the protagonists who will be on the track, bringing the spirit of F1 from the 70s and 80s to the present day. You remember them?

lotus 91

Black and gold, with the classic John Player Special decoration, the Lotus 91 is another protagonist in this edition of Estoril Classics. The model that we will see at the Estoril Circuit is the same one that participated in the 1982 Formula 1 World Championship. Nigel Mansell Y Elio de AngelisTragically missing aged 28 in an accident at Paul Ricard in May 1986, he formed the Lotus driver duo.

Designed by Colin Chapman, this Lotus also has a three-litre Cosworth V8 engine, with a five-speed manual gearbox. Power was common at the time, around 500 hp at speeds close to 11,000 rpm.

The Lotus 91 is one of the first Formula 1 cars made of carbon fiber and Kevlar, and the last signed by Colin Chapman. The lighter chassis gave the 91 the edge to fight on the track against cars already using faster and more powerful turbocharged engines. This was also the first Lotus chassis to use carbon brakes, greatly improving performance.

In terms of aerodynamics, the fairing design was intended to make the most of ground effect, covering the side radiators along the length of the car, extending to the rear wheels.

However, the Lotus 91 was known to be a very responsive car on the track, being considered by some to be one of the most difficult F1 cars to drive.

WilliamsFW08

The Williams FW08 debuted in May 1982 at the Belgian GP, ​​at the Circuit de Zolder, with Keijo Rosberg in the wheel. Better known as Keke, the Swedish-born Finn finished the race an auspicious second, in a race marked by the fatal crash of Gilles Villeneuve.

Throughout the season, Keke regularly scored points, relying on the performance and reliability of the FW08. Still built in aluminum and powered by a venerable non-turbocharged Ford Cosworth V8 engine, at a time when it was used by many, this Williams offers just over 500hp in a package that hovers around 520kg.

High aerodynamic efficiency was one of the aspects that allowed Rosberg to compete with turbo engines, from 1982, which already produced more than 570 hp, well above the 515 hp of the best aspirated V8s, such as the Cosworth. Keke ran many times without forewings, as the downward force was sufficient on that appendage. The extraordinary ability of the driver combined with the aerodynamics and light weight of the FW08 gave the two-time F1 world champion the advantage in 1982.

The Williams FW08, in the 1983 version, known as the FW08C, went down in history for being the first Formula 1 single-seater driven by Ayrton Senna, at the Donington Park circuit, in July 1983. During the private test, offered by Frank Williams, Senna completed 40 laps of the circuit, posting better times than the team’s official drivers, Rosberg and Jacques Laffite.

Lightweight JS11

In Gallic Blue and White, signed by Gitanes, the Ligier JS11 is another top model at F1 Classic events around the world. Gérard Ducarouge’s remarkable design remains unmistakable, in a model that well defines the so-called ground effect, equipped with a Cosworth V8 engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

It was a very competitive car, driven by jacques lafitte Y Patrick Depailler, Jacky Ickx Y didier pironi during the 1979 and 1980 World Championships. Laffite won the first two races of the 1979 season and Patrick Depailler won the Spanish GP at the Jarama circuit. The team placed third in the championship that year.

This Ligier generated huge downforce loads, to the point that the aluminum chassis couldn’t handle the downforce pressure. The substructure began to flex and the side skirts lifted off the asphalt, nullifying the so-called ground effect. To solve the problem, Ducarouge created a kind of valves, formed by a series of flaps that opened to release pressure, in an aerodynamic device placed in the underside of the car.

In total, the Ligier JS11 claimed just five wins and seven pole positions throughout its career, but it remains one of the most iconic single-seaters in Formula 1 history.

How did F1 come about?

The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) was the body that governed motor racing, organizing the European Championship between 1931 and 1939, which, at that time, ended up being a world championship. In 1946, the International Sports Commission (Fr. CSI, Commission Sportive Internationale), the competition department of the AIACR, began to draw up plans for the post-war resumption of motor racing. It was also around this time that the association of clubs, the AIACR, gave way to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) that we know today.

Formula 1, why?

When the CSI chose the concept of the new category of racing in 1946, the expression ‘formula’ was chosen because it best summarized the set of rules that all participants in the competition must adhere to. From the configuration of the engine to the dimensions of the cars, passing through the tires and the gasoline, the teams must respect the “formula” that collects the instructions to build the car. In the end, the differences result from the financial and technological capacity of the teams, as well as the creativity of the engineers and designers.

Initially it was called Formula International, with among the hosts those who preferred the name Formula A. Finally, it was decided that Formula 1 was the most suitable and easily recognizable denomination for everything it represented in motor sport, the main formula.

What were the original rules?

The 1947 regulations required manufacturers to use 4.5-litre normally aspirated engines as in the pre-war years, with the option of supercharged 1.5-litre engines from the old voiturette class, which were in effect Formula 2 from before the war. In 1949 it was decided that the FIA ​​Formula 1 World Championship would be inaugurated in 1950, with seven races held in Great Britain, Monaco, the United States of America, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy.

When was F1 born?

Some sources point the birth of F1 to the year 1901, when the first race with the name of Grand Prix (GP) was held in Le Mans, France. Between 1901 and 1949 several races called Grand Prix were held in several European countries, in a history that would only be interrupted during the periods of the two world wars.

Many consider the Pau Grand Prix, held in April 1950, in France, as the first Formula 1 race, but the event was not part of the championship for bureaucratic reasons. In fact, the first F1 Grand Prix officially took place on May 13, 1950 at the Silverstone circuit in England.

How can I go to Estoril Classics?

EITHER Estoril Classics It is one of the most important events in this category, an excellent opportunity to appreciate the cars that made history in world motorsports, with a program full of activities for the whole family.

Paddock access tickets are available at https://www.estorilclassics.pt/tickets, giving access to the parking lot and allowing you to see up close nearly 300 cars that are present at this event organized by ready for the racein collaboration with the Peter Self is he ACP ClassicsSupported by Cascais Tourism. Access to the bench is free.