Arrows A18

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Arrows A18
Damon Hill 1997 Arrows Yamaha Hungary.jpg
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorArrows
Designer(s)Frank Dernie (Technical Director)
Paul Bowen (Chief Designer)
Simon Jennings (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorFootwork FA17
SuccessorA19
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)double wishbones, pushrod
EngineYamaha OX11C/D 72-degree V10
TransmissionArrows/Xtrac six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power700 hp @ 14,000 rpm[1]
Fuel
LubricantsShell
TyresBridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsDanka Arrows Yamaha
Notable drivers1. United Kingdom Damon Hill
2. Brazil Pedro Diniz
Debut1997 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
17000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Arrows A18 was the car with which the Arrows Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was driven by Damon Hill, the reigning Champion who had made the surprising move to the team after being dropped from Williams, and Pedro Diniz, who had moved from Ligier.

The A18 was launched in January 1997. 1997 marked a new beginning for the team, with two new drivers, a new engine supplier in Yamaha with the engines tuned by John Judd and new tyres supplied by Bridgestone, supplied under an exclusive deal.[2] The team moved from old premises in Milton Keynes to TWR's purpose built factory in Leafield.[3] The year also marked the first full season for Tom Walkinshaw's outfit TWR in running the team, as the Scotsman had bought it from one of its founders, Jackie Oliver during 1996.[4]

After a disastrous start to the season which saw the cars almost fail to make the grid in Australia, the team improved, hiring John Barnard as Technical Director. The A18 was proven to be woefully unreliable, despite Walkinshaw's claims that he had wanted a simple and basic chassis design.[5] Damon Hill stated in his autobiography that the car was good to drive but lacked downforce.[6] Hill scored a point at Silverstone, but the highlight of the year came at the Hungarian GP, where he qualified third and led for most of the race. The failure of a throttle linkage component saw him drop behind Jacques Villeneuve on the final lap, although second place was still a great success for the team. Diniz also scored two points at the Nürburgring.[7]

The team eventually finished eighth in the Constructors' Championship, with nine points.

Damon Hill driving the A18 at the 1997 British GP.
The Yamaha OX11A engine that powered the A18.

Complete Formula One results[]

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1997 Danka Arrows Yamaha Yamaha V10 B AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR 9 8th
Damon Hill DNS 17 Ret Ret Ret Ret 9 12 6 8 2 13 Ret 7 8 12 Ret
Pedro Diniz 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 13 5 13 Ret

References[]

  1. ^ "Engine Yamaha • STATS F1".
  2. ^ "Arrows and Bridgestone agree on long-term deal". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Walkinshaw reveals the Arrows A18". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Tom Walkinshaw and Arrows". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Arrows A18". www.f1technical.net. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. ^ Hill, Damon (30 August 2016). Watching the Wheels. Pan Macmillan UK. ISBN 9781925483048. Retrieved 19 January 2020 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "The one that got away: Damon Hill, 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  • AUTOCOURSE 1997-98, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1997) ISBN 1-874557-47-0


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