Coloni arrived in Formula 1 with excellent credentials, the team having won multiple Formula 3 titles. Owner Enzo Coloni was himself a former Formula 3 champion, winning the Italian series in 1982. After also entering cars in Formula 3000 the ambitious Italian decide to enter Formula 1, beginning with the final two Grands Prix of the 1987 season.
Coloni Make Formula 1 Debut with Larini
Coloni’s first Formula 1 appearance came at Monza, with the talented young Italian Nicola Larini driving the team’s FC187 chassis. Larini failed to qualify the normally-aspirated Ford powered car for his home race but did make it onto the grid in Jerez, Spain. His race was brief, however, suspension failure ending his involvement.
Tarquini Replaces Larini at Coloni
There was a driver change at Coloni before the start of the 1988 season, with Gabriele Tarquini replacing Larini, who had gone to Osella. Tarquini managed to qualify the FC188 for the first five races of the season but therafter Coloni’s form disappeared rapidly. Tarquini only qualified on three more occasions, struggling against turbo cars and lack of development. In Canada he was still around at the end, running eighth. It would prove to be Coloni’s best ever result in Formula 1.
Moreno and Raphanel Drive for Coloni in Formula 1
Coloni had shown himself to have an eye for talent. For the 1989 season he decide to expand to a two-car team, recruiting the much under-rated Brazilian Roberto Moreno, along with the rather less talented Pierre-Henri Raphanel, who brought useful sponsorship. The team started the year badly, having to run an updated version of the 1988 car. An unexpected boost came at Monaco where both cars qualified, Raphanel starting from an incredible 18th place on the grid. The team’s joy was short-lived, both cars retiring from the race.
The new Coloni C3 finally appeared in Canada, but it was not the breakthrough the team hoped for. The rest of 1989 descended into a litany of failures to qualify and pre-qualify. Raphanel left the team after Hungary, being replaced by Enrico Bertaggia, who found himself completely out of his depth in Formula 1. The Irish designer Gary Anderson was brought in to modify the C3 and Moreno’s form did improve, but overall 1989 was a hugely disappointing season.
Subaru Enter Formula 1with Coloni
Coloni’s fortunes finally seemed to be changing when the team joined forces with Subaru for the 1990 season. With a major manufacturer on board and the exclusive use of Subaru’s V12 engine the future looked bright. Alas, the new engine was hopeless and the relationship didn’t last the season. Coloni entered a single car for Bertrand Gachot, but the hapless Belgian failed to start a single Grand Prix.
1991 would be Coloni’s final season in Formula 1. With virtually no testing or sponsorship the year was always going to be a struggle. Once again there was a single car, driven by Pedro Chaves. Disillusioned after failing yet again to make the grid for his home race in Portugal, he quit. The Japanese driver Naoki Hattori replaced Chaves but fared no better, failing to pre-qualify for the final two races of the season.
Coloni Become Andrea Moda Formula 1 Team
Coloni took the sensible step of selling his Formula 1 team during 1991, to Italian shoe salesman Andrea Sassetti. While Coloni returned to running cars in lower formulae Sassetti went on to try his hand at running a Formula 1 team in 1992, under the name Andrea Moda. The result was one of the most laughable attempts ever seen in the history of the sport.
The Andrea Moda Formula 1 Team
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