Osella FA1H

Osella FA1H

Constructor:	Osella
Designer:	Giuseppe Petrotta
Predecessor:	Osella FA1G
Successor:	Osella FA1I
Technical specifications
Chassis:	CFRP monocoque
Wheelbase:	2860 mm
Weight:	565 kg
Tires:	Pirelli
Petrol:	Agip
statistics
Driver:	Piercarlo Ghinzani Allen Mountain
First start:	1986 French Grand Prix
Last start:	1986 British Grand Prix
Starts Victories Poles SR 2 - - -
World Cup points:	-
Podiums:	-
Leadership laps:	-

The Osella FA1H was a short-lived Formula 1 racing car from the Italian racing team Osella Squadra Corse , which was entered for two races in 1986 . The car was a further development of the Osella FA1G presented in 1985 , which in turn was based on a design by Alfa Romeo from 1983 . The FA1H was severely damaged in a serious accident during its second use and was not rebuilt. Its successor was the Osella FA1I , which took over the essential design features of the FA1H, but did not appear until the 1987 Formula 1 season .

background

Development of the FA1H began in December 1985. It can be seen in the light of Enzo Osella's efforts to replace Alfa Romeo's old eight-cylinder engine with a newer, competitive design in the 1986 season. At the turn of the year 1985/1986 Osella negotiated with Motori Moderni about the purchase of the six-cylinder turbo engines, which had been developed by Carlo Chiti for Minardi in the past year . The FA1H was therefore initially designed for these engines. Ultimately, however, the connection to Motori Moderni did not materialize, so Osella had to continue to use Alfa’s eight-cylinder engines. The failure of efforts to create the Motori-Moderni six-cylinder made it necessary to adapt the FA1H to the Alfa engine, which significantly delayed the appearance of the new car.

technology

The FA1H was largely developed by Giuseppe Petrotta. The car used a monocoque that was essentially the same as the previous FA1F and FA1G models . Innovations related to the suspension - instead of the previous push struts, the FA1H now used pull struts on the rear axle - and the weight distribution, which was optimized by extending the wheelbase by a further 30 millimeters. There were small inlet openings for cooling the turbocharger on both side pods. Finally the tank volume was reduced to 195 liters. As a result, the engine cover could be made lower so that the flow to the rear wing was better. Osella still lacked the financial means for wind tunnel tests; As with the previous model, the aerodynamics were based on Petrotta's inspiration.

Contrary to the original plans, the FA1H was powered by Alfa Romeo's 890T engine.

Races

After a short test in Misano , the FA1H was presented on the occasion of the San Marino Grand Prix in the Imola pit lane ; but at that time it was not yet ready for use. After the Belgian Grand Prix he was ready to race; However, for the following Grand Prix in North America, Osella once again relied on the well-known FA1G, so that the FA1H was first registered for the French Grand Prix in July 1986.

The driver here was Piercarlo Ghinzani , who qualified for 25th place on the grid. He retired early in the race after an accident with Minardi driver Alessandro Nannini .

At the following British Grand Prix , Osella's second driver Allen Berg received the FA1H. Shortly after the start, there was a pile-up in which Thierry Boutsen and Jacques Laffite were also involved, as were both Osella pilots. The FA1H was irreparably damaged in this accident. In the remaining half of the year, the team did not build a new chassis based on the model of the FA1H, but contested the last races with the old models FA1F and FA1G.

Race results

driver	No.	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	Points	rank
1986 Formula 1 season																		0
P. Ghinzani	21st								DNF
A. Berg	22nd									DNF

literature

• Ian Bamsey: The 1000 bhp Grand Prix Cars. Haynes Publications, Yeovil 1988, ISBN 0-85429-617-4 (English).
• Adriano Cimarosti: The Century of Racing. Cars, tracks and pilots. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-613-01848-9 .
• David Hodges: Racing cars from A – Z after 1945. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-613-01477-7 .
• David Hodges: A – Z of Grand Prix Cars. Crowood Press, Marlborough 2001, ISBN 1-86126-339-2 (English).
• Pierre Ménard: La Grande Encyclopédie de la Formule 1st 2nd edition. Chronosports, St. Sulpice 2000, ISBN 2-940125-45-7 (French).

Web links

• Piercarlo Ghinzani in the Osella F1H at the 1986 British Grand Prix

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Hodges: Racing Cars from A – Z after 1945. 1994, p. 206.
2. ^ Hodges: AZ of Grand Prix Cars. 2001, p. 186.
3. ↑ For the technology cf. Bamsey: 1000 bhp Grand Prix Cars. 1988, p. 48.
4. ↑ Bamsey: 1000 bhp Grand Prix Cars. 1988, p. 48.
5. ↑ Cimarosti: The Century of Racing. 1997, p. 365.