The Shadow DN1 was a Formula One car used by the Shadow team during the 1973 Formula One season and the early stages of the following season. The car was the first Formula One car for Shadow, which had previously participated in the CanAm Sportscar Series. It was designed by former BRM engineer Tony Southgate. The DN1 was also driven by Graham Hill for his privateer team, Embassy Hill.

Shadow DN1
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorShadow Racing Cars
Designer(s)Tony Southgate
SuccessorDN3
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium monocoque
Axle trackFront: 1,473 mm (58.0 in)
Rear: 1,524 mm (60.0 in)
Wheelbase2,540 mm (100 in)
EngineCosworth DFV, NA
TransmissionHewland TL 200 5-speed manual
Weight575 kg (1,268 lb)
FuelUOP
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsShadow Racing Cars
Embassy Hill
Notable driversUnited Kingdom Jackie Oliver
United States George Follmer
United Kingdom Brian Redman
United Kingdom Graham Hill
France Jean-Pierre Jarier
Debut1973 South African Grand Prix
Last event1974 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
150200
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

Development

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The Shadow DN1 was to be the first car for Don Nichols' Formula One team, newly established to participate in the 1973 Formula One season. The team did have some racing expertise, having participated in the CanAm Sportscar Series and also bringing in experienced British racing personnel including engineer Tony Southgate and manager Alan Rees.[2] Designed by Southgate, the DN1 used an aluminum monocoque and double wishbone suspension, and was powered by a 2993 cubic centimeters (182.6 cu in) Ford Cosworth DFV engine. Having recently only worked with the smooth-revving BRM V12 engines, Southgate did not allow sufficient damping and reinforcement to compensate for the vibration of the flat-plane V8 DFV. This caused some severe reliability issues for the cars,[3] particularly at the start of the season.[4]

The Shadow works team cars were finished in an all black scheme, with sponsorship from UOP.[5]

Racing history

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Shadow DN1 at Barber Motorsport park

Shadow missed the first two races of the 1973 season, but the team arrived in South Africa for the South African Grand Prix with two entries for its drivers. The lead driver for Shadow was the experienced former BRM and Team Lotus driver Jackie Oliver while driving the other car was George Follmer who, although a novice in Formula One, had extensive experience in sportscar racing. Follmer finished sixth in South Africa, and followed this performance up with third in the following race. Oliver took another third place for the team in the penultimate race of the year in Canada. Shadow entered a third car for Brian Redman for the final race of the year but he failed to add to the team's points tally for the year. Shadow finished the year with nine points and eighth place in the constructor's championship.[2]

In 1974, the DN1 was superseded by the Shadow DN3 although new Shadow driver Jean-Pierre Jarier had to drive the DN1 for his first two races of the year, retiring from both.[2]

Embassy Hill

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The Embassy Hill Shadow DN1 from 1973 being demonstrated at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Graham Hill also purchased a Shadow DN1 during the 1973 season for his newly established team, Embassy Racing. Driving the team's only entry, which ran in a largely white scheme with a red cordon imitating the sponsor's cigarette packets, Hill failed to score any points with the DN1. His best finish was ninth at the 1973 Belgian Grand Prix. Embassy Hill switched to Lolas for the following season.[2]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(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 Points WCC
1973 UOP Shadow Racing Cars Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR NED GER AUT ITA CAN USA 9 8th
Jackie Oliver Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 11 3 15
George Follmer 6 3 Ret DNS 14 Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret 10 17 14
Brian Redman DSQ
Embassy Racing Graham Hill Ret 9 Ret Ret 10 Ret NC 13 Ret 14 16 13
1974 UOP Shadow Racing Cars Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA 7* 8th
Jean-Pierre Jarier Ret Ret

* All points scored in 1974 were with Shadow DN3 cars

References

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Citations
  1. ^ Shadow DN1 @ StatsF1
  2. ^ a b c d Nye, 1986, p. 233
  3. ^ Brown, Allen (30 December 2016). "Shadow DN1 car-by-car histories". Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ^ Southgate, 2010, p. 57–60
  5. ^ Hodges, 2001, p. 208
Bibliography
  • Hodges, David (2001). A – Z of Grand Prix Cars. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Crowood Press. ISBN 1861263392.
  • Nye, Doug (1985). Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Car 1966 – 1985. Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom: Hazelton Publishing. ISBN 0905138376.
  • Southgate, Tony (2010). From Drawing Board to Chequered Flag. Croydon, United Kingdom: MRP Publishing. ISBN 978-1-899870-82-0.
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  Media related to Shadow DN1 at Wikimedia Commons