View source for Connew

{{short description|British racing car constructor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox F1 team
|short_name    = Connew
|long_name     = Connew Racing Team
|logo          = Connew PC1 chassis plate.jpg
|Base          = [[Chadwell Heath]], UK
|Founders      = Peter Connew
|Staff         = Roger Doran<br>Barry Boor
|Drivers       = {{flagicon|France}} [[François Migault]]<br>{{flagicon|UK}} [[David Purley]]
|Engines       = [[Cosworth DFV]]
|Debut         = [[1972 British Grand Prix]]
|Races         = 2 (1 start)
|Wins          = 0
|Poles         = 0
|Fastest_laps  = 0
|Last race     = [[1972 Austrian Grand Prix]]
}}

'''Connew Racing Team''', commonly known as '''Connew''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɒ|n|.|j|uː}}), was a short lived British [[Formula One]] [[List of Formula One constructors|constructor]]. Founded in 1971 by Peter Connew, the team constructed a single car, the PC1. The first monococque had to be aborted due to a change in regulations and the second tub was known as PC2.<ref name ="ReferenceA">{{cite web|last=Lawrence|first=Mike|title=The story of the Connew GP car|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1986/26/story-connew-gp-car|website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]] magazine archive|date=August 1986|access-date=12 October 2014}}</ref> However, record books show the car driven by Migault and others as PC1.<ref name ="ReferenceB"/> The intent was to compete in the Formula One World Championship in 1972, but a lack of financial and technical resources meant that the car only managed to start in one championship race, the [[1972 Austrian Grand Prix]], with French driver [[François Migault]] at the wheel. Following the Austrian race, the car competed in a handful of non-championship races before being converted to meet [[Formula 5000]] specifications for the 1973 season. The [[chassis]] was damaged beyond repair during the season finale at [[Brands Hatch]] and the team closed.
[[File:Connew PC1-Cosworth.jpg|thumb|Connew PC1-Cosworth, at Race Retro, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 2018]]

==History==
In 1969, at the age of 23, Peter Connew was asked by a friend if he wanted to attend the [[1969 Italian Grand Prix|Italian Grand Prix]] at [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza|Monza]]. Connew's employer refused to give him time off to attend the race, so he resigned and travelled to the race anyway.<ref name="autosport">{{cite magazine|last=Nye |first=Doug |author-link=Doug Nye |date=17 February 1972|title=Connew: the story so far |magazine=[[Autosport]] |volume=46 |issue=7 |pages=26–8}}</ref> Upon returning Connew needed employment and was hired by [[Surtees Racing Organisation|Surtees]], a [[Formula One]] team run by former champion [[John Surtees]], as a [[Drafter|draughtsman]].

===1972: Formula One===
{{Quote box
 | quote  = His car proves you can build a Formula One car by sweat alone, and makes you wonder about some of the astronomic development costs you hear the Establishment quoting!"
 | width = 24em
 | source = Stuart Turner, Competition Manager for [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]].<ref name="autosport"/>
}}
[[File:Connew PC1.png|thumb|Connew PC1]]
After a falling out with team principal [[John Surtees]],{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} Connew left the team to pursue designing his own car. A [[Garage (house)|garage]] was rented in [[Chadwell Heath]] and the initial construction of the [[chassis]] [[Jig (tool)|jig]] began in December 1970. Connew was assisted by Roger Doran, who worked as a shopfitter, and Connew's cousin Barry Boor.<ref name="autosport"/><ref name="8w">{{cite web |url=http://www.forix.com/8w/connew.html |title=DIY heroes|access-date=24 August 2007|last1=Diepraam|first1= Mattijs|last2=Muelas|first2=Felix|website=forix.com}}</ref>

Connew's design philosophy was that whilst the car should be efficient, it should also be easy to work on and maintain. The Connew design was tested and refined by utilising a wind tunnel of a local technical college. During the build, drivers [[Tony Trimmer]], [[Howden Ganley]] and [[Gerry Birrell]] all came to view the car, with Trimmer stating it to be one of the most comfortable cars he had ever sat in.<ref name="autosport"/>

The team planned to make their racing debut at the [[1972 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco Grand Prix]], but a sudden rule change required the construction of another chassis in a different type of [[aluminium]]. In the meantime, Connew made a deal with [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] to purchase a second hand [[Cosworth DFV]] engine. Frenchman [[François Migault]] signed a deal to drive for the team and also provided a [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[truck]], which carried the car to France. The truck broke down before it could get to the [[Circuit de Charade|Clermont-Ferrand]] circuit, the location of the [[1972 French Grand Prix|French Grand Prix]] and instead the team tested at the [[Bugatti Circuit]] in [[Le Mans]].<ref name="8w" />

The car finally took part in practice for the [[1972 British Grand Prix]] but was withdrawn before the race. The car had an unusual rear suspension which proved not to be up to the job. It was taken back to the workshop and repaired overnight, but upon loading the next day, a rear upright was found to be cracked and it was withdrawn.<ref name ="ReferenceA"/>

The small team also managed to show up at the [[1972 German Grand Prix]], but without having made a proper prior entry, participation was denied by the race officials.

The car was modified and entered in the [[1972 Austrian Grand Prix]]. Migault qualified at the end of the field despite some engine troubles. After 22 laps, Migault had passed four competitors, but a rear [[Double wishbone suspension|wishbone]] mounting point failed<ref name ="ReferenceB">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who|first=Steve|last=Small|date=1994 |page=255|publisher=Guinness |isbn=0851127029}}</ref> and Migault had a nasty moment. The car swerved towards the barriers on the start/finish straight, but the driver brought the car safely to a halt without damage.

The Connew reappeared at the end of season [[1972 World Championship Victory Race|World Championship Victory Race]] at [[Brands Hatch]] with [[David Purley]] driving but did not start because of electrical problems. Purley had asked for an electrical "kill" switch to be fitted to the steering wheel, but on the warm-up lap this malfunctioned, the engine stopped and the car was retired.<ref name ="ReferenceA"/>

===1973: Formula 5000===
The car was modified to meet [[Formula 5000]] regulations and appeared in the [[European Formula 5000 Championship]] in 1973, fitted with a [[Chevrolet]] [[V8 engine]].<ref name="oldracingcars_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/car.php?CarID=Connew/2 |title=Connew PC1-002 |access-date=2007-08-24 |last=Brown |first=Allen |website=oldracingcars.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317153136/http://www.oldracingcars.com/f1/car.php?carid=connew%2F2 |archive-date=17 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The car made its first outing in the series at [[Mallory Park]] for round 10 of 18. Swiss driver [[Pierre Soukry]] qualified the car in twenty-first place, but was unable to start due to a split oil pipe.<ref name="oldracingcars_2">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=E73J |title=Rothmans F5000 Championship round: Mallory Park, 8 Jul 1973 |access-date=2007-08-24 |last=Brown |first=Allen |website=oldracingcars.com}}</ref> Three races later, the Connew failed to qualify at [[Brands Hatch]], with Soukry at the wheel.<ref name="oldracingcars_3">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=E73M |title=Rothmans F5000 Championship round: Brands Hatch, 27 Aug 1973 |access-date=2007-08-24 |last=Brown |first=Allen |website=oldracingcars.com}}</ref> The car's final appearance was at the season finale, again at Brands Hatch. [[Tony Trimmer]] drove but a collision with a barrier put the chassis beyond repair.<ref name="8w" />

==Racing record==

===Formula One===

====Formula One World Championship====
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]])
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Year
! Chassis
! Engine(s)
! Tyres
! Drivers
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! Points
! WCC
|-
|rowspan="2"| {{F1|1972}}
|rowspan="2"| [[Connew PC1]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[V8 engine|V8]]
|rowspan="2"| {{Firestone}}
|
| [[1972 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1972 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1972 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1972 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1972 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1972 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1972 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1972 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1972 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1972 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1972 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1972 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
|rowspan="2"| '''0'''
|rowspan="2"| '''NC'''
|-
| {{flagicon|France}} [[François Migault]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| DNS
|
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|
|
|
|}

====Non-championship results====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Year
! Event
! Venue
! Driver
! Result
! Category
! Report
|-
| 1972
| [[Rothmans 50,000]]
| [[Brands Hatch]]
|align="left"| {{flagicon|France}} [[François Migault]]
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| [[Formula Libre]]
| [[Rothmans 50,000|Report]]
|-
| 1972
| [[1972 World Championship Victory Race|John Player Challenge Trophy]]
| Brands Hatch
|align="left"| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[David Purley]]
|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| DNS
| [[Formula One]]
| [[1972 World Championship Victory Race|Report]]
|}

===Formula 5000===

====European Formula 5000 Championship====
([[:Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]])
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Year
! Chassis
! Engine(s)
! Drivers
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! 17
! 18
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1973
|rowspan="3"| [[Connew PC1]]
|rowspan="3"| [[Chevrolet]] [[V8 engine|V8]]
|
| [[Brands Hatch|BRA]]
| [[Mallory Park|MAL]]
| [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]]
| [[Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit|SNE]]
| [[Brands Hatch|BRA]]
| [[Oulton Park|OUL]]
| [[Mallory Park|MAL]]
| [[Misano World Circuit|MIS]]
| [[Circuit Park Zandvoort|ZAN]]
| [[Mallory Park|MAL]]
| [[Mondello Park|MON]]
| [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]]
| [[Brands Hatch|BRA]]
| [[Oulton Park|OUL]]
| [[Jyllands-Ringen|JYL]]
| [[Circuit Park Zandvoort|ZAN]]
| [[Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit|SNE]]
| [[Brands Hatch|BRA]]
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Pierre Soukry]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| DNS
|
|
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Tony Trimmer]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*Formula One results are taken from the Official Formula 1 Website. [http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1972/ 1972 Season review.] www.formula1.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
*Formula 5000 results are taken from the OldRacingCars.com website. [http://www.oldracingcars.com/f5000/races.php Formula 5000 races.] www.oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
*Rothmans 50,000 result is taken from the OldRacingCars.com website. [http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=R572 Rothmans 50,000.] www.oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
*John Player Challenge Trophy result is taken from the OldRacingCars.com website. [http://www.oldracingcars.com/results/result.php?RaceID=VR72 John Player Challenge Trophy] www.oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 9 January 2010.

==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20060210042337/http://62.149.36.46/~bruce/cgi-bin/story1.htm The Connew Story]. History of the Connew project written by team member Barry Boor.
* [http://www.forix.com/8w/connew.html DIY heroes]. Article about the team.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boZlncP1PKY The Connew Story] on [[YouTube]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141016232320/http://archive.motorsportmagazine.com/article/august-1986/26/story-connew-gp-car Story of the Connew GP car] at [[Motor Sport (magazine)|''Motor sport'']] ''magazine archive''

{{Formula One constructors}}

[[Category:Formula One constructors]]
[[Category:Formula One entrants]]
[[Category:British auto racing teams]]
[[Category:British racecar constructors]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1973 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Auto racing teams established in 1972]]
[[Category:Auto racing teams disestablished in 1973]]