Centenari M1

Centenari M1

Category	CN/SR2
Constructor	Centenari Racing SRL
Successor	Centenari Mac3
Technical specifications
Engine	Alfa Romeo 2,959 cc (180.6 cu in) V6 naturally-aspirated mid-engined
Tyres	Pirelli
Competition history
Notable entrants	Centenari Racing SRL
Notable drivers	Arturo Merzario Robin Donovan Fulvio Ballabio
Debut	1991 , Enna-Pergusa
Races Wins 57 6
Teams' Championships	0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Centenari M1 was a Le Mans Prototype, originally built by Centenari in 1991 for the . In 1997 and 1998, it was used in the SR2 and the CN category of the International Sports Racing Series. Two cars are known to have been built.^[1]

History[]

National events[]

In 1991, Centenari entered and a M1 in several events.^[2] The best result of the season was a third-placed finish at Enna-Pergusa.^[3] For 1992, D'Amore left the team, and was entered at Monza, but failed to finish.^[4] Arturo Merzario was then entered in two races,^[2] with his best finish being eighth at Vallelunga.^[5] The car was not used again in 1993,^[2] but Merzario used the car from 1994 until 1997 in the series.^[6] He took the car's first ever victory at Vallelunga in 1995,^[7] and he would take four more Italian Prototype Championship victories in the car.^[6] The team started their 1998 season at the 1000 km Monza, which was part of the and the , with Merzario, , Robin Donovan and Fulvio Ballabio driving the M1.^[8] Although the car was qualified in twelfth,^[9] it did not have a successful race, as it was retired after 73 laps.^[10]

International Sports Racing Series[]

In 1997, Centenari entered the new International Sports Racing Series (ISRS), with the M1.^[11] The M1 featured an Alfa Romeo-sourced 3-litre V6 engine, and was classified as a SR2 car. The team made its debut in the season opener at Donington Park, with Merzario and hired as drivers, and won their class at the first attempt; as the only other SR2 class entry, a -entered Debora LMP297-BMW, retired from the event.^[12] Although they retired from the following round at Zolder, having entered under the "Symbol Team" banner,^[13] they took an overall win at Brno (competing in the CN class as no other SR1 or SR2 entries were present) for the only time in the team's history.^[14] The entry for the final race at Jarama was made under the Centenari name once more, and the team took the SR2 class victory, and finished second overall.^[15]

For 1998, a new car, the Centenari Mac3, was developed, and the team expanded to a two-car effort, with the M1 being retained. In the ISRS season opener at Paul Ricard, the M1 finished fourth, being classified in the CN category; both the M1 and the Mac3 were the only cars in that category to finish the race.^[16] This was followed by a tenth overall finish (third in the CN class) for the M1 at Brno.^[17] For Misano, Centenari entered three cars; two M1s, and a Mac3; however, both M1s retired.^[18] At Donington Park, only one of the M1s was classified as finishing, in last place overall, as the other M1 did not start the race.^[19] Anderstorp once more saw only one M1 finish, in last place overall, as the other M1's differential failed after a single lap.^[20] At the Nürburgring, once again a single M1 finished, in thirteenth overall; however, this meant that the car was the last finisher in the CN class.^[21] At the penultimate round at Le Mans, one of the M1's engines expired before it completed a lap, and the other experienced an engine failure after 30 laps.^[22] A single M1 was the only Centenari entry in the season finale at Kyalami; however, it retired with clutch issues after 32 laps.^[23] Centenari were classified joint-second in the CN Team's Championship, and eleventh overall, at the end of the season.^[24] That proved to be the car's last race.^[25]

References[]

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