Aston Martin DBR4
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2021) |
Competition history | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notable entrants | David Brown Corporation | ||||||||
Notable drivers | Roy Salvadori Carroll Shelby | ||||||||
Debut | 1959 Dutch Grand Prix | ||||||||
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n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. |
The Aston Martin DBR4/250, commonly referred to simply as the DBR4, is a
The DBR4 was largely based on the DB3S sportscar, and borrowed that vehicle's basic chassis and engine layout. Although it was tested as early as 1957, the DBR4 did not make its World Championship debut until the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix, driven by Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby. However, its long gestation period meant that by the time it finally entered competition much of its concept and technology had been superseded, and the car was not a success. The DBR4 was replaced by the lighter Aston Martin DBR5/250 in early 1960, but when that car also failed to provide competitive results Aston Martin abandoned Formula One to concentrate on their more successful sports car projects.
Design
A potential open-wheeled Aston Martin racing car had been discussed as early as 1955, and a hastily constructed prototype was tested in the Australian and New Zealand races in early 1956, driven by Reg Parnell. Following successes in this Antipodean experiment, and despite the majority of Aston's racing department being fully occupied with the sports car program, Aston Martin decided to pursue a Formula One entry in earnest. However, the company's emphasis on sports car competitions meant that attention was often diverted from the Formula One program, and development delays were common almost from the outset.
Building on Aston Martin's established road car and sports racer template, the chassis of the DBR4 was a conventional
Suspension was handled by
The DBR4 also shared the basic
A total of four Aston Martin DBR4/250s were built between 1957 and 1959, with three surviving to date. Recognising their failings, the Aston Martin race team reworked the DBR4 into the DBR5 for the 1960 season. The DBR5 was smaller and lighter, and engine modifications meant that the power output was finally close to the figure originally claimed by the Aston Martin workshop. The DBR5 also boasted all-independent suspension, but results did not improve from those of the DBR4 and both DBR5s were eventually broken up.
Competition career
The Aston Martin DBR4/250 was unveiled to the public in April 1959, and made its competition debut on 2 May in the non-Championship
At the DBR4's World Championship debut in the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix on 31 May, Shelby and Salvadori could only manage 10th and 13th fastest in qualification, respectively. During the race both cars succumbed to engine problems in the early laps and failed to finish. Further delays and shifted priorities meant that the light green Astons only appeared at a further three races of the 1959 Formula One season. The DBR4s failed to score even a single point during this time; their best results being a pair of 6th places for Salvadori, taken at the British and Portuguese rounds. Following a second disappointing outing in the BRDC International Trophy (Trintignant was tenth and Salvadori's engine expired on lap 4), a solitary DBR4 appeared in practice for the 1960 Dutch Grand Prix, entered for Salvadori when the DBR5 was not ready. The car was saved further possible embarrassment when a starting money dispute caused Aston Martin to withdraw prior to the start.
The coda to the DBR4's racing career came in mid-1960, when a car was shipped to Australia for local racers Lex Davison and Bib Stillwell to compete in the Australian and New Zealand national championship Formula Libre races. Fitted with a 3.0-litre engine the car performed much better than had been the case during its brief Formula One life, and Davison took second place in the 1960 Australian Grand Prix. To reflect the increase in engine capacity this car was officially known as the DBR4/300. Stillwell retained the DBR4/300 until the end of the 1962–63 season.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key)
Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | WCC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | David Brown Corporation | straight-6
|
A
|
MON | 500 | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | POR | ITA | USA | 0 | - | ||
Roy Salvadori | Ret | 6 | 6 | Ret | ||||||||||||
Carroll Shelby | Ret | Ret | 8 | 10 | ||||||||||||
1960 | David Brown Corporation | straight-6
|
D | ARG | MON | 500 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | POR | ITA | USA | 0 | - | |
Roy Salvadori | DNS | |||||||||||||||
Source:[1]
|
Non-Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Driver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | David Brown Corporation | straight-6
|
A
|
GLV | AIN | INT
|
IGC | SCT | |||
Roy Salvadori | 2 | ||||||||||
Carroll Shelby | 6 | ||||||||||
1960 | David Brown Corporation | straight-6
|
D | RSA | CBA | GLV | INT
|
SCT | LOM | IGC | |
Roy Salvadori | Ret | ||||||||||
Maurice Trintignant | 10 |
References
- ISBN 0851127029.
- ISBN 978-0-946627-48-6.
- "Aston Martin DBR4". UltimateCarPage.com. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
- "Car Model: Aston Martin DBR4/250". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 25 September 2007. (World Championship statistics.)
- "The Formula One Archive". GEL Motorsport Archive. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007. (Race results.)
- Hodges, David (1990). A-Z of Formula Racing Cars. Bideford, UK: Bay View Books. p. 279. ISBN 1870979168.
External links
- Photographs of DBR4/4. AstonMartins.com.