Minardi M191

The Minardi M191 was a Formula One car designed by Aldo Costa and Rene Hilhorst and built by Minardi for the 1991 Formula One season. The car was powered by the Ferrari V12 engine and ran on Goodyear tyres. Its best finish in a race was 4th (twice).

Minardi M191
Minardi M191B
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMinardi
Designer(s)Aldo Costa
Rene Hilhorst
PredecessorM190
SuccessorM192
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fibre monocoque
Axle trackFront: 1,800 mm (70.9 in)
Rear: 1,640 mm (64.6 in)
Wheelbase2,990 mm (117.7 in)
Engine1991: Ferrari Tipo 037, 65° V12, 3,493 cc (213.2 cu in), NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted.
1992: Lamborghini 3512, 80° V12, 3,493 cc (213.2 cu in), NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted.
TransmissionMinardi 6-speed
Weight505 kg (1,113.3 lb)
FuelAgip
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsMinardi Team
Notable drivers23. Pierluigi Martini
23. Christian Fittipaldi
24. Gianni Morbidelli
24. Roberto Moreno
Debut1991 United States Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
20000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Development

For the 1991 season, team owner Giancarlo Minardi arranged a supply of Ferrari V12 engines to replace the Cosworth V8s that it had used since 1988. However, the new engines, designated 036, were actually those used by Ferrari during the 1989 season and had not received any further development. Later in the season, Minardi received 037 specification engines, which were those from Ferrari's 1990 car.[2]

The chassis was designed by Aldo Costa with Rene Hilhorst providing aerodynamic input.[1]

Race history

1991

The M191 debuted in the 1991 United States Grand Prix, driven by Italians Pierluigi Martini and Gianni Morbidelli. Martini, a longtime stalwart of Minardi, scored all the points scoring finishes for the team in 1991, finishing fourth at the San Marino Grand Prix and repeating the feat in Portugal.[1] This meant a finish of 7th place in the Constructors' Championship, the best placing Minardi achieved in the course of its history.[3]

Despite qualifying well on occasion (with a best of 8th place on the grid in San Marino and Japan), Morbidelli failed to score any points. His best finish was 7th at the Mexican race.[1] He was promoted to the Ferrari race team following the sacking of Alain Prost after the Japanese Grand Prix.

Morbidelli was replaced by Brazilian Roberto Moreno for the last race of the year in Australia, at which he placed 16th.[1]

1992

The team used an updated M191, designated the M191B, for the first four races of the 1992 season before it was replaced by the Minardi M192. With it, Morbidelli, back in the team after his one-off drive for Ferrari at the tail end of the previous season, finished 7th at the Brazilian Grand Prix. It was his only finish with the M191B. New recruit Christian Fittipaldi likewise only had one finish with the M191B, 11th at the Spanish race.[4]

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts. WCC
1991 Minardi Team M191 Ferrari 037 V12 G USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 6 7th
Pierluigi Martini 9 Ret 4 12 7 Ret 9 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret 4 12 Ret Ret
Gianni Morbidelli Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 11 Ret 13 Ret 9 9 Ret Ret
Roberto Moreno 16
1992 Minardi Team M191B Lamborghini 3512 V12 G RSA MEX BRA ESP SMR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR JPN AUS 1* 12th*
Christian Fittipaldi Ret Ret Ret 11
Gianni Morbidelli Ret Ret 7 Ret

* Point scored using the M192.

Notes
  1. "Minardi M191". Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. Hodges 2001, p. 179.
  3. "Minardi". Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. "Minardi M191B". Retrieved 24 May 2016.

References
  • Hodges, David (2001). A–Z of Grand Prix Cars. Ramsbury,Wiltshire: The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-339-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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