Benetton B198

**Benetton B198**
	A Benetton B198 as a show car
Constructor:	Benetton
Designer:	Pat Symonds (technical director) ; Nick Wirth (designer) ; Jean-Claude Migeot (aerodynamics)
Predecessor:	Benetton B197
Successor:	Benetton B199
Technical specifications
Chassis:	Pressed composite monocoque made of CFRP
Engine:	Playlife ( Renault ) 3,000 cm³, 71 ° V10 naturally aspirated engine
Front suspension:	Double wishbone axle with internal springs and two shock absorbers , operated via push rods
Rear suspension:	Double wishbone axle with internal springs and two shock absorbers , operated via push rods
Width:	Front 1490 mm, ; rear 1405 mm
Wheelbase:	2900 mm
Weight:	0600 kg
Tires:	Bridgestone
Petrol:	Agip
statistics
Driver:	5. Giancarlo Fisichella 6. Alexander Wurz ;
First start:	1998 Australian Grand Prix
Last start:	1998 Japanese Grand Prix
World Cup points:	33
Podiums:	2
Leadership laps:	12 over 101.683 km
	Status: end of season 1998

The Benetton B198 was the Formula 1 racing cars of Benetton Formula for the 1998 season , took part in all 16 races of the season.

Technology and development

The front wing
The rear wing

The technical director for development was Pat Symonds , he was responsible for Nick Wirth for construction and Jean-Claude Migeot for the aerodynamic shape of the car. The engine was a Renault engine from the previous year, a naturally aspirated 3.0 liter V10 that was serviced by Mecachrome . The engine generates around 775 hp , the six-speed semi-automatic transmission came from our own development.

The wheels were individually suspended on double wishbones with internal spring-damper units operated by push rods , with triple damping at the front and double damping at the rear.

Racing history

On December 18th, the prototype of the new Benetton B198 was completed and tested by Giancarlo Fisichella in Silverstone. Benetton's new CEO , David Richards , replaced the sacked Flavio Briatore . He wanted a balanced car that would deliver better results than previous models and serve as a basis for future years. This made Benetton the first team of the 1998 season to officially test its car. After the first test drives were severely restricted by a snow storm, the first realistic tests were planned for the period after Christmas. The car was officially presented to the press for the first time on January 15th at the London Television Center .

The start of the new season was sobering, only ten points from five races could be achieved. But at the race in Monaco , Giancarlo Fisichella's second place was the first podium of the season. In the following race Fisichella finished second again and Wurz also scored points with fourth place. In the race in Canada, Fisichella was in the lead for a long time until he dropped behind Michael Schumacher on lap 45 after his only pit stop. This was followed by an up and down with the results, so that at the end of the season with 33 points scored, fifth place in the constructors' championship was achieved. Overall, Benetton was eliminated ten times during the season, five of them due to driving errors.

Painting and sponsorship

The basic color of the B198 was light blue with white side boxes and some red accents on the front and rear wings. The main sponsor was the tobacco company Japan Tobacco , which with its Mild Seven brand was on the front wing, the airbox, on the sides of the vehicle in front of the cockpit and on the rear wing. In countries with a ban on tobacco advertising , the lettering was omitted or replaced by the team name Benetton, which at the same time promoted its own parent company, the Benetton Group . Other major sponsors were the shipping company FedEx , which advertised on the side pods, and the Korean Air airline , whose logo was placed in front of the air inlets.

Smaller sponsors sometimes changed from race to race. The Japanese electronics company Akai , which usually advertised on the air baffles and on the front wing, and the computer company Hewlett-Packard were often involved . Occasionally Akai also advertised on the side panels of the rear wing, but in individual races this position was also used by the German wireless operator D2 Mannesmann or by the Benetton Group itself with its slogan "United Colors of Benetton". The name of the partner Playlife was on the side boxes of the car. The logo of the fuel supplier Agip was attached to the headrest and behind the start number on the nose.

driver

The drivers in 1998 were Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz , who replaced last year's driver Gerhard Berger . A replacement driver for the 1998 season was not nominated.

Further use of the vehicles

At the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix , Alexander Wurz drove a Benetton B198 in a show race as a preliminary to the Formula 1 race.

A racing Benetton B198 with chassis number B198 # 02 , driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, is currently for sale on the Internet. Instead of the original Playlife engine, a Judd 4.0 liter V10 naturally aspirated engine with around 700 hp was installed.

Results

driver	No.	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	Points	rank
Formula 1 World Championship 1998																		33	5.
Italy G. Fisichella	5	DNF	6th	7th	DNF	DNF	2	2	9	5	DNF	7th	8th	DNF	8th	6th	8th
Austria A. Wurz	6th	7th	4th	4th	DNF	4th	DNF	4th	5	4th	9	11	16	DNF	DNF	7th	9