1978 Arrows A1 Formula 1
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Serial Number: A1-3
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The Teams first year, in 1978, was marked by a furious divelopment pace brought on by legal controversy. The original design FA-1 was designed and built in 60 days, in time to make the second race of the season and quilify for the all-important FOCA money. A London High Court case brought by Shadow head man Don Nichols, ruled the design too somilar to the DN9. Incredibly, the A-1 was then designed and built in only 52 days and the team did not miss a race.
A total of three A-1s were constructed. The A-1 bore an obvious resemblance to the FA-1 although it had a wider track. longer wheelbase, and inboard rear suspension. In the first outing at Austria, Patrese qualified well but was eliminated in an accident. This was to happen again at the next race in Holland. Patrese finally managed a good fourth at the final race of the year in Canada, as the car began to come on form.
The design was revised as the A-1B for 1979 and an additional three cars were built to this specification.
One of the first three A1s produced, this car appears in the Warsteiner livery it wore in 1978, when the team drivers were Jochen Maas, Ricardo Patrese, and Rolf Stommelen.
