OT: 2-Seater F1 Race

[cegerer]

Anybody else hear of this? A race was staged in the UK over the weekend between 5 Minardi 2-seat F1 cars. The passengers were either journalists or people who won auctions for the ride. The race ended when Nigel Mansell and his passenger crashed into the back of another car and went air-borne. No one was hurt.

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[Early_S_Man]

What a novel idea ... from the 1960s! FIA Group 7 cars had to have a passenger 'seat' or at least a space of certain dimensions ... and some of the most humorous accounts were written by journalists that went along for rides in various McLaren cars trying to find some way to hold on! The Can-Am series might not have died in 1974 if they had installed proper seats and belts for paying fun-seekers taking one-lap runs after the events were over!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[orbmedia]

917's had to have two seats, so the second seat was a tiny little fiberglass shell. Hardly usable for a real passenger but it fullfilled the rules.

I didn't know Minardi had the cash to build five 2 seaters.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

In the early races they even must have 3 passengers. One was the mechanic and one was time keeper the 3rd was the official.

Le Mans race cars must have a trunk and a suitcase must fit in there.

Mc Laren/Mercedes startet the first two seaters some 3 years ago.

Not to forget the ML/BMW F1 is a 1 + 2 with the driver in the middle.

Grüsse

[cegerer]

I think Minardi must be making some cash on this thing somehow. I'm wondering if they are going to continue to do similar races and offer the passenger seats up for sale to the highest bidder. Those seats have to be worth some serious cash - I mean how much would you pay for not just a ride in an F1 car, but be involved in an actual race with the likes of Nigel Mansell at the wheel!! I'd pay a fair sum !

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[cegerer]

The internet almost makes this stuff too easy! A quick search turned this up:

http://www.euroav.com/Pages/f3000.html

[Natchamp]

They've had 2 seater F1 cars for years (for the modern cars). I beleive McLaren was the first and they did it right after they got the MB engines. The original motive was only for journalists and sponsors only. Since McLaren has had so much sucess the other teams have made it a trend. Now that there are several current 2 seaters the natural progression is to race them!

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Mark
The Beast
mark@hargett.com

[Jack Olsen]

I think for Le Mans you needed (still need?) a passenger seat, a luggage compartment of a certain size, and a spare wheel.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

[MBlake]

I read that the guy in the 2 seater that Mansell crashed had paid £50,000 for the priviledge.

Paul Stoddard won the race - either a team owner who can drive as well, or a case of 'no, after you!'

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Marcus

'73 S Targa

[IDrabble]

Paul Stoddard is a very accomplished hillclimb racer, so I am sure he knows how to drive.And besides if you owned a F1 company wouldnt you spend as much time in one of your cars as possible

[MBlake]

Impressive none the less, bearing in mind that PS was on the track with current F1 drivers and a previous World Champ.

More info

http://www.itvf1.com/media/cache/itvf1/story_6985.php3



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Marcus

'73 S Targa

[cegerer]

CART also has a couple of 2-seaters. Mario Andretti drives the Target Chip Ganassi car. I think they only use it on road courses due to the liklihood of an injurious crash on an oval, even at reduced speed. The Arrows F1 team, in an apparent case of oneupsmanship, came out with a 3-seater this year: 1 passenger slightly behind and on either side of the driver.

[motion]

I read that Mario is only around 3 seconds a lap slower in the 2 seater than a normal Cart car.

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-Richard
'84 Carrera Cabriolet
'74 911 Widebody 3.6 Project