team formula racing car season conceived preceded development car designed innovative problematic material construction car powered ford engines lacked power suffered reliability issues driven team founder short grand prix career entering races starting scored team point points background development founded factory driver cooper motor racing team competed formula highest level international single competition years team raced series competition single ran formula world championship season sports car races continued race formula championship races cooper team performances decided build formula car race following year despite skilled engineer enlisted design car herd engineer previously worked involved project september development car completed powered engine test herd design ideas tyres employed cooper team initially denied building formula competitor claiming purely tyre test bed factory construction started chassis whilst possibly started completed december completed miles testing race engines ready installed testing car month design team joined herd colleague later chief designer february testing carried california united_states anticipation start world championship season design mid engined rear wheel drive design having lotus influenced experience herd built chassis material originally designed internal aircraft composite wood sheets aluminium ordinary aluminium useful characteristic racing car material proved difficult bend curved shapes needed whilst prototype entirely steel bulkheads utilised inner upper skins remainder aluminium complicated repair crash damage use mean chassis built open cockpit car nearly degree glass reinforced plastic covered nose cockpit engine fuel stored rubber bag tanks situated herd knowledge experience ford sports car racing programme combined spur team experimenting aerodynamic fitted rear wing produced downwards pressure car tyres allows faster reduced lap times seconds test circuit november half years ferrari teams eventually debuted wings grand prix team intended use wing engine problems occurred prevented suspension conventional based arrangement springs springs rear braking provided discs inches diameter wheels measured exactly feet rear track feet inches feet inches respectively formula engine capacity limit increased litres litres previous seasons considered discounted engines opting ford engine engine originally designed indianapolis premier single oval track race united_states reduced capacity litres limit choice partly motivated belief bring financial support ford engineer initially appointed carry conversion engine england progress slow project transferred california united_states extensive modifications oversight form ford engine produced expected reduced capacity version produce fact produced narrow power band handicapped large size weight combined gearbox weighed nearly rival team entire car order allow time develop ford engine races engine produced required modifications relatively light compact speed clutch employed originally intended raced green silver colour scheme designed short money team financial deal makers film grand prix drama included actual race footage involved car painted white green stripe order represent film fictional japanese team racing history ford powered debut driven world championship season opening grand prix qualified 10th grid ran high sixth retired laps oil leak decided looks going fairly drastic moves engine room race belgium engine replacement unit provide immediate solution damaging practice spare unable start race team missed race france brands hatch finished sixth score championship point non start resulted failed entries german italian prix withdrawn anticipation improved ford engine equipped drove fifth place points final event mexico rear cut away help prevent engine failed race intended racing sports cars team race second car engine problems prevented world championship results table legacy despite lack success herd said team times determined better following year design car reflected emphasis tended chassis structure design quick racing car tended technical engineering team member later manager organisation said main problems choice ford engine personal secretary author winners drivers championships eponymous team modified engine produced approximately ford light weight reliability rendered effective despite having sports racing cars team discounted mayer said considered kind modifications resources doubt later cars abandoned favour conventional aluminium construction ford engine saw action engines powered available scored formula wins herd stayed designing cars left successful teams formula sold private united_kingdom destroyed fire sources suggest chassis similarly sold awaiting restoration united_states currently display grand prix exhibition
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