Cosworth 4WD, 1969
Following the success of their DFV Formula 1 engine Cosworth decided to manufacture an entire car for 1969. One of the DFV’s best assets was its excellent torque characteristics, but transmitting the engine’s prodigious power to the road could be difficult, particularly in wet conditions. To solve this Cosworth’s Formula 1 car would utilise a four-wheel drive system of the company’s own design, at a time when several other teams were also experimenting with the possible advantages the technology could offer in Grand Prix racing.
The car appeared in two guises, neither attractive. It featured long side-pods and an offset driving position, to allow for the driveshaft. The majority of the testing was undertaken by the experience Formula 1 driver Trevor Taylor. Jackie Stewart also tried the car but found it not to his satisfaction, as it suffered from excessive understeer.
The car was optimistically entered for the 1969 British Grand Prix but, before the event, the project was cancelled. Four other four-wheel drive machines did turn up for the race. Lotus, Matra and McLaren continued to experiment with it but the four-wheel drive route turned into a blind alley.
Ferrari 312 T6, 1977
This remarkable contraption harked back to the days of pre-war hillclimb cars such as the Auto-Union Bergrennwagen, featuring twin rear wheels sharing a single axle. The 312T6 was in fact a butchered version of the successful 312T2, which Niki Lauda had almost won the 1976 Formula 1 title with. The Austrian's season was interrupted by a life threatening crash during the German Grand Prix. The six-wheeled 312T6 used front tyres at the rear, specially developed for the purpose. It was one of a few six-wheeled designs during that period, although Tyrrell's P34 was the only exapmle which raced.
The car was tested by both Lauda and Carlos Reutemann, but never raced. Quite apart from the fact that it was far wider than the regulations permitted it also proved a challenge to drive. During one test at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track Reutemann crashed the car, and suffered a rear upright failure on another occasion. Needless to say the Argentinean was not impressed.
Following the 312T6 experiment articles appeared in the Italian press with illustrations depicting a secret Ferrari Formula 1 car, dubbed the 312T8. They showed four wheels at the front, like the Tyrrell P34, and another four at the rear, like the March 2-4-0. The idea was evidently crazy and no such car ever materialised.
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