Description
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LOT 12†
The Ex-2007 European Grand Prix-leading, Ex-Adrian Sutil, Markus Winkelhock, Sakon Yamamoto, Giancarlo Fisichella
2007-8 Spyker-Ferrari F8-V11/ Force India-Ferrari VJM01 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater
Lot to be sold without reserve
£80, 000 - £100, 000
2007-8 Spyker-Ferrari F8-V11/ Force India-Ferrari VJM01 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater
Chassis no. F8-VII/ 04 (VJM01-04)
• European Grand Prix Leading
• Used across two consecutive seasons
• Multiple Grand Prix entrant
• Ferrari powered in period
This originally Ferrari V8-engined modern-era Formula 1 Grand Prix car offered here is a well-presented and significant display-specification model offered direct from the currently sensationally well-performing Aston Martin Cognizant team's historic collection. It is a visually complete and rolling Formula 1 Grand Prix car offered less engine, which has been preserved and maintained by its original constructor since its current use during both the 2007 and 2008 Formula 1 World Championship racing series. It is here offered – in show car configuration- for public sale for the first time ex-works since the ex-Jordan, ex-Midland, ex-Spyker Force India team was acquired and renamed Racing Point for 2019, and which today has become the current Aston Martin Cognizant Formula 1 operation
This particular car began life as the 2007 Spyker-Ferrari chassis 'F8-VII/ 04' – itself derived from an initial 2006 Midland M16 design - and it was reworked for the 2008 season to re-emerge as the Vijay Mallya-owned renamed Force India team's prototype 'VJM01'.
Most significantly during 2007 this car was powered by nothing less than the Ferrari F1-056H 90-degree V8 engine, driving via a Spyker 7-speed plus reverse longitudinally-disposed gearbox with electro-hydraulic sequential gear selection. This Spyker of course was built by what had been the prominent former Jordan team, based adjacent to the Silverstone race circuit in England, owned by entrepreneur Alex Shnaider, and racing under the Midland title. The Dutch sports car manufacturer, Spyker, arrived on the scene with good intentions, its principals intent upon returning the team to at least midfield competitiveness from a period of down-grid stagnation.
Former Toyota Formula 1 designer Mike Gascoyne – who had worked for Jordan earlier in his career - was hired, and under his technical direction – as 'Autocourse' annual recorded "When circumstances allowed, the orange-and-grey cars managed to embarrass outfits working on five times Spyker's budget...".
A new aerodynamic concept was created with former Tyrrell and Ferrari specialist Jean-Claude Migeot's Aerolab concern. Initial problems with too little downforce and excess drag were addressed by a B-spec update in time for the 2007 Italian Grand Prix. In the Belgian round at Spa-Francorchamps one week later Spyker started driver Adrian Sutil on soft tyres and enabled him to run prominently in mid-field. When the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring was then started in rain, Spyker brought in their other driver – Markus Winkelhock – at the completion of the parade lap, fitted his car (the chassis now offered here) with wet weather tyres – and he went on to lead overall for six intoxicating laps while the rival teams stopped to make the same switch.
Adrian Sutil proved to be one of the team's best assets, even setting fastest time in wet practice on the Sunday morning of the Monaco Grand Prix. Sutil's performance in fact led to the early exit from the team of original Dutch driver Christijan Albers whose failure to match his team-mate's pace led to his replacement by the German, Winkelhock, for that immensely cheering outing at the Nürburgring, then by the Japanese Sakon Yamamoto for the remainder of the season. Overall the Spyker team in performance terms ended that 2007 season with great expectations approaching 2008.
In its original Spyker-Ferrari F8 form this chassis 'V11/ 04' made its public debut driven by Adrian Sutil in the 2007 French Grand Prix. Its appearance list as reported contemporarily was as follows:
French GP – Adrian Sutil – q. 21 – 17th
British GP – Christijan Albers – q. 22 – 15th
European GP, Nürburgring – Markus Winkelhock – q. 22 – Rtd electronics
Hungarian GP, Hungaroring – Sakon Yamamoto – q. 22 – Rtd spin
Italian GP, Monza – Sakon Yamamoto – q. 22 – 20th
Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps - Sakon Yamamoto – q. 21 – 17th
Japanese GP, Suzuka - Sakon Yamamoto – q. 22 – 12th
Chinese GP, Shanghai - Sakon Yamamoto – q. 22 – 17th
Brazilian GP, Interlagos - Sakon Yamamoto – q. 22 – Rtd accident
For 2008 the Spyker team was acquired by Indian brewery and airline magnate – and lifelong car enthusiast – Vijay Mallya. It re-emerged as the new Force India Formula One team, but its improved budget became available too late to develop a new car so the existing Spyker F8-V11 became the basis of the Force India-Ferrari VJM01 design.
Chief Technology Officer Mike Gascoyne explained: "Basically we re-bodied the B-version of the '07 car. Once the money came in we updated the wind tunnel, but that didn't come on stream until September, and in the meantime we used the Lola and Aerolab tunnels. Our quick-shift gearbox, which was introduced at Valencia, brought us around 0. 3 seconds of lap time. Prior to that, since the start of the season, we'd found almost 1 second, so it was a very good performance-improvement curve, all things considered...".
In initial Force India VJM01 form this car featured a new underfloor, diffuser, bargeboards and sidepod design. A thick fin concealed much of the lower front wishbone to prevent airflow between the front wing and the flow conditioner topping the nose being interrupted as the wishbone moved under dynamic pitch and roll. The new airflow around the car required modified bargeboard and sidepod shapes. In VJM01 form this car developed higher downforce and lower drag than it had in 2007 configuration. A major update for the British GP at Silverstone brought the cars around 0. 4 second per lap improvement, while an airbox redesign introduced at Singapore squeezed enhanced performance from the Ferrari 056-series V8 engine.
Surviving factory records indicate that this chassis saw service both in testing and competition during 2008 as Force India-Ferrari VJM01-04. It was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella for 385kms in Test 7 at the Jerez circuit in Spain – then for a further 322kms there ain Test 30, again with 'Fisi' in command. The Force India team's contracted test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi also drove in that Test 30 period, completing 378kms in this chassis '04.
The factory records also confirm that the car then competed in qualifying rounds 6 and 7 of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship, as follows:
Monaco GP – Giancarlo Fisichella – q. 20 – Rtd gearbox
Canadian GP – Giancarlo Fisichella – q. 17 – Rtd spin
At Monaco Fisichella had gained five places from his troubled qualifying position before he was sidelined by gearbox failure, while in Montreal, Canada, he had soared ten places before spinning off at Turn 4.
We understand that this originally 2007 Spyker-Ferrari chassis subsequently performed service as a promotional showpiece. But at heart here is a race-used Formula 1 car which once at least led a World Championship-qualifying Grand Prix and which was – in period – powered by Ferrari, no less.
Please note this lot is subject to additional VAT on the hammer price.
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