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BMW - Williams 6 Wheel Car

Discussion in 'F1' started by West777, Dec 28, 2003.

  1. West777

    West777 Formula Junior

    Aug 28, 2003
    311
    #1 West777, Dec 28, 2003
    Sorry if this has already been posted.

    Has anyone seen that BMW-Williams prototype? Six Wheels, 4 Wheel drive. I saw it in the F1 Racing magazine last week. I was in a hurry and didnt get to read the arrticle, just saw the pictures.

    Did anyone read this article?
     
  2. Bryan

    Bryan Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,310
    Montrose, Colorado
    #2 Bryan, Dec 28, 2003
    Ferrari (1976-77), March (1976), Tyrrell (1976), and Williams (1981) all made 6-wheel cars at one time or another...not very successfully either. Only the Tyrrell actually raced. Is there a chance the magazine photo was from then?
     
  3. vince308

    vince308 Formula 3

    May 23, 2003
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    #3 vince308, Dec 29, 2003
    the Ferrari had 4 wheels on the back, any one has original pictures ?

    the Tyrell had 4 wheels on the front....
     
  4. Daytonafan

    Daytonafan F1 Rookie

    Oct 18, 2003
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    #4 Daytonafan, Dec 29, 2003
    I did see the article briefly in the newsagents, the general gist was Williams were asked what they would do to build the ultimate restriction free F1 car. The concept had 4 driven wheels at the back full ground effect aerodynamics, slicks and active suspension. The computer model reckoned it would be 10 seconds a lap faster around Silverstone than the current cars and would produce up to 6g on cornering. So pretty quick then!!
     
  5. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Sep 3, 2002
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    Rob C.
    #5 Nuvolari, Dec 29, 2003
    Formula 1 rules are very specific in this regard. Only 4 wheels are permitted.
     
  6. Mr Payne

    Mr Payne F1 Rookie

    Jan 8, 2004
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    #6 Mr Payne, Jan 10, 2004
    This was assuming no rule changes after 1981, but keeping the current powerplants I believe.
     
  7. Skelter

    Skelter Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    48
    #7 Skelter, Jan 11, 2004
    just a note: BMW had nothing to do with Williams at the time.
     
  8. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 3, 2002
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    #8 tifosi12, Jan 12, 2004
    todays rules prohibit more than 4 wheels and more than 2 wheels driven

    which is really too bad, imagine the engineering fun we could watch with six wheel cars and all wheel drive, whoa!
     
  9. vanimal

    vanimal Formula Junior

    Mar 19, 2003
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    #9 vanimal, Jan 12, 2004
  10. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
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    #10 PSk, Jan 12, 2004
    I think we are referring to 2 different cars.

    1st car: Williams back in the 70's (I think, may have been 80's) produced a 6 wheeled car with 4 rear wheels ... I do not think it ever raced.

    2nd car: Not long ago for the F1 magazine they produced a theoretical study of how they saw a modern F1 car without all these stupid restricting rules and thus ended up with a 6 wheeled car again ... with 4 rear wheels. This ofcourse never will be built.

    Also I was not aware that Ferrari ever went the 6 wheeled route??? ... confirmation please :)

    Pete
     
  11. joeyy

    joeyy Karting

    Nov 11, 2003
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    #11 joeyy, Jan 12, 2004
    vanimal,
    great stuff!! where did you find such interesting info??
     
  12. Bryan

    Bryan Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #12 Bryan, Jan 12, 2004
  13. Santini

    Santini Formula Junior

    Oct 1, 2003
    480
    North Carolina
    #13 Santini, Jan 13, 2004
    What do you think of the new BMW-Williams? Weird nose...
     
  14. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
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    Pete
    #14 PSk, Jan 13, 2004
    Okay I followed the link and read up, but while the Ferrari may have had 6 'wheels' it was not a true 6 wheeled car IMO.

    This is because they mounted the rear wheels all on the same axle, ie. like a truck, 2 per side. This does not take full advantage of the concept and is probably no better than a 4 wheeled system, especially on a bumpy track.

    The advantage of the way the Williams car did this is that the extra wheels have their own suspension, etc. and thus follow the road independently thus improving traction under all conditions. The Ferrari system on the other hand doesn't in the situation say the outside rear wheel was on a lump (say curb) ... this would mean that it's mate right next to him would also be lifted and thus not providing the ideal traction.

    Thus Ferrari did not really put much effort and thinking IMO into this concept ... also considering how big the rear wheels used to be in those days the contact patch was probably bigger than 2 front wheels anyway! and thus why the concept for all was binned I guess. Nowadays it would be a much bigger contact patch ...

    Pete
     

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