Shadow DN8

The Shadow DN8 was a Formula One car used by the Shadow team during the 1976, 1977 and 1978 Formula One seasons. Driven by Alan Jones, it won the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix, Shadow's only Grand Prix victory.

Shadow DN8
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorShadow Racing Cars
Designer(s)Tony Southgate
Dave Wass
PredecessorDN5B / DN7
SuccessorDN9
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium monocoque
Axle trackFront: 1,473 mm (58.0 in)
Rear: 1,524 mm (60.0 in)
Wheelbase2,718 mm (107.0 in)
EngineCosworth DFV NA
TransmissionHewland TL 200 5-speed manual
Weight620 kg (1,370 lb)
FuelFINA / Valvoline
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsShadow Racing Cars
Notable drivers Tom Pryce
Alan Jones
Riccardo Patrese
Clay Regazzoni
Jackie Oliver
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Debut1976 Dutch Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
25100
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Development

The Shadow DN8 was conceptualised by Tony Southgate before he left the team to join Team Lotus. Dave Wass then completed the design work. It featured a low monocoque tub with hip radiators and an oil cooler positioned in the nose (but which would later be moved). Originally intended for the beginning of the 1976 season, a lack of funds following the withdrawal of major sponsor UOP the previous year meant the DN8 did not make its debut until late in the year, at the Dutch Grand Prix. Only one DN8 was produced for 1976, and it would not be until the third race of the following season that two DN8s were available for the drivers.[2]

Southgate returned to the team in the summer of 1977, and this prompted development of the DN8; the chassis was slimmed down with the water and oil coolers reworked for the latter part of the season.[3]

Racing history

After qualifying third in the hands of Tom Pryce, the DN8 finished fourth in its first race of the year, in the 1976 Dutch Grand Prix. After the promise of this first race, it reverted to a midfield runner for the rest of the season. This continued into the early part of the 1977 Formula One season. After Pryce was killed during the South African Grand Prix, the team brought in Alan Jones as a replacement.[2] Jones finished in the points in Monaco and Belgium, and scored a win in the Austrian Grand Prix, from 14th on the grid. He had run second for much of the race and inherited the lead when James Hunt's car developed engine trouble.[1] Jones finished third in Italy and fourth in Canada and Japan for 22 points and 7th in the Drivers Championship standings.[2]

Renzo Zorzi had proved very slow and was replaced with Riccardo Patrese after five races.[2] Patrese dovetailed the second Shadow seat with his Formula Two commitments, and Jackie Oliver, Arturo Merzario and Jean-Pierre Jarier all deputised on occasion.[3] Patrese scored a point with sixth place in the Japanese Grand Prix.[1][2]

The DN8 remained in service for the early part of the 1978 Formula One season for the team's new drivers, Hans Stuck and Clay Regazzoni. Regazzoni finished fifth at Brazil, but both drivers failed to qualify for the next race in South Africa. The Shadow DN9 was introduced at the following race for Stuck's use, while Regazzoni got his DN9 the race after.[3]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1976 Shadow Racing Cars DN8 Ford V8 G BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN 10* 8th
Tom Pryce 4 8 11 Ret Ret
1977 Shadow Racing Cars DN8 Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN 23^ 7th
Tom Pryce NC Ret
Renzo Zorzi Ret Ret Ret
Alan Jones Ret Ret 6 5 17 Ret 7 Ret 1 Ret 3 Ret 4 4
Riccardo Patrese 9 Ret Ret Ret 10 13 Ret 10 6
Jackie Oliver 9
Arturo Merzario Ret
Jean-Pierre Jarier 9
1978 Shadow Racing Cars DN8 Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN 6° 11th
Hans Stuck 17 Ret DNQ
Clay Regazzoni 15 5 DNQ 10

* 7 points scored in 1976 was with the DN5B
^ 1 point scored in 1977 was with the DN5B
° 4 points scored in 1978 was with the DN9

Notes

  1. Stats F1. "Shadow DN8". Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  2. Nye, 1986, pp. 233234
  3. Hodges, 2001, p. 210

References

  • Nye, Doug (1985). Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Car 1966 – 1985. Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom: Hazelton Publishing. ISBN 0905138376.
  • Hodges, David (2001). A – Z of Grand Prix Cars. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press. ISBN 1861263392.
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