Ferrari 126 C2 F1

Production	1982 to 1983
Class	race car
Body style	F1
Engine	V6 turbo

The Ferrari 126C2 was a Formula 1 racing car from the 1980s, which was used in 1982 and 1983 in the Formula 1 World Championship.

History

The Ferrari 126C2 was the first Ferrari built by British designer Harvey Postlethwaite for Scuderia. The monocoque is built from sandwich panels with honeycomb core . The suspensions with rocker arms and inner struts were almost identical to the previous model, the Ferrari 126CK. A lot of time was invested in the redevelopment of the turbocharger of the V6 turbo engine and the previously hesitant response of the engine has been improved.

During the season, the suspensions were revised and from the middle of the season, a further improved engine was used. It soon turned out that Ferrari had built one of the fastest race cars of the season. The season was overshadowed by disputes and accidents. After winning the Grand Prix of the Netherlands , Pironi was already well in the lead in the World Championship, but at the German Grand Prix he also had a serious accident during practice. In the pouring rain he drove on the vehicle of Alain Prost and the Ferrari overturned several times. Pironi did lose his life, but heavy leg injuries put an end to Formula One careers. As so often in the history of the Scuderia, a catastrophe was followed by success and Villeneuve replacement Patrick Tambay won the race the day after.

At the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza , Mario Andretti made a comeback in Formula 1. The American put his 126C2 in pole position in training and finished in the race behind Renault driver René Arnoux and his team-mate Tambay third parties. The points secured the Scuderia the Constructors' Cup, the driver's title went to the retirement of Pironi Keke Rosberg .

For the 1983 season, a new race car, the 126C3 was developed with an improved version of the 126C2, the 126C2B . The C2B now had a flat bottom and improved suspensions. Tambay thus won the Grand Prix of San Marino .

PERFORMANCE

• Top speed - 320 km/h
• Power to weight ratio 1 kg/hp
• Maximum power - 580 hp at 11,000 rpm
• Specific power - 387.5 hp/litre