Shadow DN9

The Shadow DN9 was a Formula One car used by the Shadow team during the 1978 and 1979 Formula One seasons. It is most famous for having been copied by the new Arrows team for their FA1. Arrows, formed by a disgruntled group of Shadow's staffers, were in the end prohibited from using the design.[2]

Shadow DN9
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorShadow Racing Cars
Designer(s)Tony Southgate
John Baldwin
PredecessorDN8
SuccessorDN11
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium monocoque
Axle trackFront: 1,631 mm (64.2 in)
Rear: 1,641 mm (64.6 in)
Wheelbase2,642 mm (104.0 in)
EngineCosworth DFV NA
TransmissionHewland FGA 400 5-speed manual
Weight605 kg (1,334 lb)
FuelFina/Valvoline
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsShadow Racing Cars
Notable drivers
Debut1978 United States Grand Prix West
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
26000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Development

The Shadow DN9 was developed by Tony Southgate, returning to Shadow from Team Lotus. After racing the last three-quarters of the 1978 season, it returned for 1979. A new sponsor (Holland's Samson shag tobacco) necessitated a new paintjob and a series of wind tunnel tests and subsequent aerodynamic improvements were carried out. New side skirts were introduced, helping to lower drag while doubling downforce.[3]

Racing history
The DN9 in 1978 trim, as raced by Clay Regazzoni

The Shadow DN9 was introduced at the 1978 Long Beach Grand Prix for first driver Hans-Joachim Stuck's use, although he did not start the race. Second driver Clay Regazzoni got the new car for the race after (Monaco).[4] Hawaiian driver Danny Ongais was also entered twice, by Interscope Racing, but failed pre-qualifying on both occasions.[1] Ongais also tested at Silverstone, where he went faster than Lammers who was to become Shadow's second driver in 1979.[5]

A disappointing 1978 meant using drivers of a lower caliber for 1979, with rookie drivers Elio de Angelis and Jan Lammers scoring only once, with de Angelis' surprise fourth place in the car's last race at the rainy 1979 United States Grand Prix. Interscope Racing, the privateer who had twice entered a DN9 in 1978, was the team fielding de Angelis, Shadow's de facto first driver.[1] The choice of Dutchman Lammers was tied to the Shadows team's main sponsor, the Dutch Samson shag tobacco company.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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

Year Entrant(s) Engine(s) Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1978 Shadow Racing Cars Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN 6* 11th
Hans-Joachim Stuck DNS Ret Ret Ret 11 11 5 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret
Clay Regazzoni DNQ Ret 15 5 Ret Ret DNQ NC DNQ NC 14 DNQ
Interscope Racing Danny Ongais DNPQ DNPQ
1979 Shadow Racing Cars Ford V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 3 10th
Jan Lammers Ret 14 Ret Ret 12 10 DNQ 18 11 10 Ret Ret DNQ 9 DNQ
Interscope Shadow Racing Elio de Angelis 7 12 Ret 7 Ret Ret DNQ 16 12 11 Ret Ret Ret Ret 4

* 2 points scored in 1978 was with the DN8

Notes
  1. Stats F1. "Shadow DN9". Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. "CONSTRUCTORS: ARROWS GRAND PRIX". GrandPrix.com. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  3. Lammers, Jan (24 March 1979). "Lammers' Visie". Autovisie (in Dutch). Amersfoort, Netherlands: Arnold van der Wees. 24 (6): 61.
  4. Hodges, 2001, p. 210
  5. "Danny Ongais Biography". F1 Rejects. Archived from the original on 21 March 2013.

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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