Tec-Mec Automobili

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Tec-Mec Automobili was an Italian racing car designer from Modena who, among other things, produced a vehicle for Formula 1 in 1959 . The car only took part in one racing event.

Company history

Initially called Studio Technica Meccanica , the company was founded in 1958 by engineer Valerio Colotti . Colotti had been employed by Maserati until 1957 , where he had designed parts of the successful Formula 1 model Maserati 250F . After Maserati had given up its factory involvement in Formula 1 at the end of 1957, Colotti decided to set up his own company to develop and manufacture components for motorsport on a contract basis. One of Colotti's first work was the development of a Formula 1 gearbox that was used by the British team Rob Walker Racing for Stirling Moss in 1959 .

In 1958, the private Italian driver Giorgio Scarlatti , who was looking for a successor to his outdated Maserati 250 F, commissioned Colotti's Studio Technica Meccanica to develop a new racing car. Colotti began the work, but before it could be completed, Colotti sold his company to the American George Pennington and the Swiss Hans Tanner, who changed the company's name to Tec-Mec Automobili. While Colotti then together with Alf Francis , the company Gear Speed Developments (later Colotti Trasmissioni ) founded, put Pennington and Tanner using the mechanic Giuseppe Consoli building, initiated by Colotti Formula 1 cars continued. The car called Tec-Mec 415 was completed in the late summer of 1959 and then loaned out to an American team that entered it for a Formula 1 race. The car delivered disappointing results. Tec-Mec then stopped its Formula 1 efforts. The company later designed a car for Formula Junior that was powered by a Fiat engine. This vehicle could not convince either. Tec-Mec then ceased operations.

The Tec-Mec 415

TecMec 415

When designing the Tec-Mec 415, Colotti pursued the goal of developing a lighter, more effective version of the initially very successful Maserati 250F. Colotti had already started thinking about this during his time at Maserati; after founding his own company, he continued corresponding developments. Conceptually, the Tec-Mec 415 was similar to the Maserati 250F. The car was based on a tubular space frame; however, he used thinner tubes than the Maserati. All bikes were hung individually. A Maserati engine installed at the front served as the drive. The front engine concept was conservative; In 1959, when the Tec-Mec 415 was presented, the Cooper cars had already proven the superiority of the mid-engine concept. The Tec-Mec had independent suspension on all four wheels. The body was made by the supplier Allegretti e Gentilini .

The Tec-Mec mechanic Consoli built the 415 in the course of 1959. The car was completed in the late summer of 1959. Bob Said , Piero Drogo , Joakim Bonnier and Giorgio Scarlatti carried out the first test drives, but did not consider the car in its original condition to be suitable for racing. A report from the car for the 1959 Italian Grand Prix was then withdrawn.

After a quick revision of the chassis, the American racing team Camoradi Racing took over the Tec-Mec 415 and entered it for the 1959 US Grand Prix , which was held in December 1959 at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida . The Brazilian Fritz d'Orey , who was known to Pennington, but had little experience in Grand Prix racing , was hired as the driver . During qualification training in Sebring, the Tec-Mec 415 suffered from a piston defect, so that not enough compression was built up on two cylinders. With the defective car, D'Orey achieved a qualifying time that was more than 33 seconds longer than the lap time of pole driver Stirling Moss. He started the race as 17th of 19 drivers and retired after eight laps after his engine suffered a total loss.

The car was used one more time on a high-speed drive outside of Formula 1. Here, too, the Tec-Mec 415 suffered engine damage. Tec-Mec then gave up the vehicle. It was in Tom Wheatcraft's racing car collection in Donington Park for many years .

literature

  • Michael Bowler: Historic Racing Cars 3: 1959 Tec-Mec Maserati - Seven Lap Wonder . In: Motor from December 6, 1969.
  • David Hodges: A – Z of Grand Prix Cars 1906–2000. 1st edition, London 2001, ISBN 1861263392 (English)
  • David Hodges: Racing Cars from A – Z after 1993 . Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-613-01477-7 .
  • Mike Lawrence: Grand Prix Cars 1945-1965 . Motor Racing Publications (London) 1998. ISBN 1-899-87039-3
  • Louis T. Stanley: Grand Prix World Championship 1959 . WH Allen Publications (London) 1960 (without ISBN).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For the history of the company see: History. Colotti Trasmissioni (English / Italian).
  2. ↑ Lawrence: Grand Prix Cars 1945-1965, p. 249.
  3. ^ Hodges: Racing Cars from A – Z after 1945. P. 243.
  4. ^ Hodges: A – Z of Grand Prix Cars 1906–2001. P. 220.
  5. ↑ Lawrence: Grand Prix Cars 1945-1965. P. 249.
  6. ^ Motor, December 6, 1969.
  7. ↑ Lawrence: Grand Prix Cars 1945-1965. P. 249.
  8. ^ Stanley: Grand Prix World Championship 1959. P. 141 ff.