Aston Butterworth
Aston Butterworth was a Formula Two constructor from the United Kingdom, which competed in the seasons 1952-1953 when the World Drivers' Championship was run to Formula Two regulations. The team participated in four World Championship Grands Prix.
Founded | 1952 |
---|---|
Founder(s) | Bill Aston Archie Butterworth |
Folded | 1954 |
Base | United Kingdom |
Team principal(s) | Bill Aston |
Former series | World Drivers' Championship |
Noted drivers | |
Teams' Championships | 0 |
Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The project was instigated by Bill Aston, who decided to build a car for Formula Two. The chassis was a copy of a Formula Two Cooper,[1] fitted with a flat-four engine devised by Archie Butterworth. The car made its debut in April 1952 in the Lavant Cup at Goodwood,[2] finishing eighth with Aston at the wheel. In May, a second car was added, driven by Robin Montgomerie-Charrington, who achieved the team's best finish, a third place at Chimay in June. This car was designated NB42 and as of May 2015 was in its original specification.[3]
Aston entered the car, fitted with Allard-Steyr cylinder heads and a new carburettor,[4] in the 1952 German Grand Prix. He withdrew on lap two after losing oil pressure.[4] Aston continued to appear in races throughout the 1953 season, but there was never enough money to develop the program properly. A major problem was the supply of fuel - the Aston Butterworth sometimes had fuel starvation, and sometimes caught on fire.[1] When the new F1 regulations came in 1954, Aston-Butterworth ceased participating.
Complete World Championship results
(key)
Year | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Driver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1952 | Aston NB42 | Butterworth F4 | Dunlop | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | NED | ITA | |
Ret | ||||||||||||
Aston NB41 | DNS | Ret | DNQ | |||||||||
Source:[5] |
References
- Hodges, David (1990). A-Z of Formula Racing Cars. Bideford, UK: Bay View Books. p. 279. ISBN 1870979168.
- "The Easter Goodwood meeting". Motor Sport magazine archive. May 1952. p. 26. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- Annotation to vehicle displayed at Motorsport at the Palace seen 25 May 2015
- "XV GROSSER PREIS VON DEUTSCHLAND". Motor Sport magazine archive. September 1952. p. 39. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. pp. 13 and 258. ISBN 0851127029.