Rory Byrne
Rory Byrne | |
---|---|
Born | Pretoria, South Africa | 10 January 1944
Occupation(s) | Chief designer at Scuderia Ferrari 1996–2006, Design and Development Consultant for the Scuderia Ferrari 2006–current |
Known for | Formula One car designer at Ferrari |
Rory Byrne (born 10 January 1944) is a South African semi-retired engineer and car designer, most famous for being the chief designer at the Benetton and Scuderia Ferrari teams of Formula One.
Byrne-designed cars have won ninety-nine Grands Prix, seven constructors' titles and seven drivers' titles. This makes Byrne the third most successful Formula One designer, behind rival Adrian Newey and Colin Chapman.
Early career
Byrne became interested in motor racing at
Following his success in 1972 Byrne relocated to England to pursue a career in racing car design. Purchasing an ageing
An introduction to
Formula One
Toleman/Benetton
The first Byrne-designed car to appear at a grand prix was the
The team's steady progress towards the front of the grid was given a boost in 1985 when the
After a brief spell with the abortive
It was immediately obvious[
With the accusations of cheating behind them, the Benetton team secured both titles before the season was finished – finally Byrne had what he wanted most. His car had won the Formula One constructors' crown. With the hugely influential Schumacher leaving Benetton for Ferrari at the end of the season, the team began to fragment. Byrne announced that he would retire in 1996.
Ferrari
By the conclusion of the 1996 season Michael Schumacher was being given free rein at Ferrari to build a team of engineers capable of returning the team to the top of the sport after years of underperforming. Benetton technical director Ross Brawn was hired and Ferrari approached Rory Byrne to replace the team's existing chief designer John Barnard who refused to re-locate to Italy. After long negotiations Byrne was lured from his retirement in Thailand back to Europe where he began building a design office at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters. Ferrari were immediately competitive once again, taking the title fight to the final race of the season in both 1997 and 1998. Continuing to build momentum in the following seasons, Ferrari won the constructors' championship in 1999, their first in 17 years. By the end of the 2004 season, Byrne-designed Ferraris had secured 71 race victories, six consecutive constructors' titles and five consecutive drivers' titles for Michael Schumacher with a sustained level of dominance never before seen in the sport.
In 2004 Rory Byrne announced that he would be retiring from Formula One at the end of the 2006 season, handing over the role of chief designer to Aldo Costa, his assistant since 1998. On 19 September 2006, it was announced that Rory had extended his stay, as a consultant, at Ferrari for another two years which led him until early 2009.[2]
In 2012, Byrne was called in to look at the Ferrari F2012 F1 car after it had a troubled start to its life.[3] He was also involved in the design of LaFerrari.[4]
In February 2013, at the launch of F138 – in interview to the German Auto Motor und Sport Rory Byrne said that he is "working full steam" on Ferrari's 2014 F1 car, in an advisory role.
Maurizio Arrivabene revealed that Byrne is working as mentor in Ferrari helping the chief designer Simone Resta.[5]
Byrne was heavily involved in the design of the 2022 Ferrari F1-75. As the car proved successful on the first part of the season, his contract was renewed for further three years.[6] He was also involved in the design of the 2023 Ferrari SF-23.
Discovery Insure
Byrne is a Special Engineering Advisor to Discovery Insure in South Africa in which he assists the company in improving the driving behaviour of South Africans and making the roads safer for all to use.
Formula One World Championships
No. | Seasons | Constructors' Champion | Drivers' Champion | Car | Engine |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1994 FIA Formula One Season
|
— | Michael Schumacher | B194 | Ford |
2 | 1995 FIA Formula One Season
|
Benetton | Michael Schumacher | B195 | Renault |
3 | 1999 FIA Formula One Season
|
Ferrari | — | F399 | Ferrari |
4 | 2000 FIA Formula One Season
|
Ferrari | Michael Schumacher | F1-2000 | |
5 | 2001 FIA Formula One Season
|
Ferrari | Michael Schumacher | F2001 | |
6 | 2002 FIA Formula One Season
|
Ferrari | Michael Schumacher | F2002 | |
7 | 2003 FIA Formula One Season
|
Ferrari | Michael Schumacher | F2003-GA | |
8 | 2004 FIA Formula One Season
|
Ferrari | Michael Schumacher | F2004 |
References
- ^ "September 1991 Information". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ "Byrne set to stay at Ferrari until 2009"
- ^ Benson, Andrew (11 February 2013). "BBC Sport – Ferrari bring back designer Rory Byrne to work on 2014 car". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ Ionut Ungureanu (2 February 2015). "World's First Matte Black Ferrari LaFerrari Is Superhero Madness". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Rory Byrne working again at Ferrari".
- ^ "Nel disegno della Ferrari F1-75 c'è il tocco di un mago: Lo stesso che fece trionfare Schumacher". 14 April 2022.