Benetton B197

Benetton B197
Category Formula One
Constructor Benetton
Designer(s) Pat Symonds
Nick Wirth
Predecessor B196
Successor B198
Technical specifications
Chassis carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front) double wishbones, pushrod, triple damper
Suspension (rear) double wishbones, pushrod, double damper
Engine Renault RS9, RS9A and RS9B 71-degree V10s
Transmission Benetton six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic
Fuel Agip
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants Mild Seven Benetton Renault
Notable drivers 7. France Jean Alesi
8. Austria Gerhard Berger
8. Austria Alexander Wurz
Debut 1997 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
17122
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0

The Benetton B197 was the car with which the Benetton Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was driven by Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, who were both in their second season with the team. However, Berger was forced to sit out three races in the middle of the season due to sinus problems, and compatriot Alexander Wurz made his F1 début by deputising for him, starting at the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix.

The car was a development of the B196, from which both drivers had found difficult to extract maximum performance in 1996. The B197 proved competitive at nearly every race, but only scored one win when Berger made his faultless return to the cockpit at Hockenheim. The main problem with the car was its inability to bring its tyres up to temperature on low-grip circuits, particularly in qualifying. However, Berger and Alesi did secure one pole position each during the course of the season. By the end of the season, it was clear that Benetton would adopt a new driver line-up for 1998, with Berger retiring and Alesi moving to Sauber.

The team eventually finished third in the Constructors' Championship, with 67 points. The Benetton B197 can still be seen competing in the EuroBoss series.

Jean Alesi driving the B197 at the 1997 Italian Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One results

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

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1997 Mild Seven Benetton Renault Renault V10 G AUS BRA ARG SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA AUT LUX JPN EUR 67 3rd
Jean Alesi Ret 6 7 5 Ret 3 2 5 2 6 11 8 2 Ret 2 5 13
Gerhard Berger 4 2 6 Ret 9 10 1 8 6 7 10 4 8 4
Alexander Wurz Ret Ret 3

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benetton B197.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.