The Zakspeed 891 was a Formula One car for the 1989 season run by the German Zakspeed team. Its drivers were German Bernd Schneider in his second year with the team and F1 rookie Aguri Suzuki from Japan.

Zakspeed 891
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorZakspeed
Designer(s)Gustav Brunner
Predecessor881
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fibre and Kevlar Monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, push-rod operated shock absorbers
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, push-rod operated shock absorbers
Axle trackFront: 1,800 mm (71 in)
Rear: 1,650 mm (65 in)
Wheelbase2,820 mm (111 in)
EngineYamaha OX88, 3,498 cc (213.5 cu in), 75° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionZakspeed 6-speed manual
FuelCastrol
TyresPirelli
Competition history
Notable entrantsWest Zakspeed Racing
Notable drivers34. Germany Bernd Schneider
35. Japan Aguri Suzuki
Debut1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last event1989 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
2000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

This was the first Formula One car powered by Yamaha engine.

Overview

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Due to neither Schneider nor his 1988 team mate Piercarlo Ghinzani scoring any points in the 881, the team was forced into pre-qualifying in order to be able to try to qualify for a race. While Schneider was able to qualify his car 25th for the 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix, it would prove to be a false hope with the German only able to pre-qualify and qualify once more, at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix. Suzuki never made it past pre-qualifying at any of the 16 rounds during the season.

Most of this was attributed to what was found to be a very underpowered Yamaha engine. Late in the season following another double failure to pre-qualify at the Spanish Grand Prix, the Yamaha OX88 V8 was reported to be producing only 560 bhp (418 kW; 568 PS).[2] This compared badly to the base 620 bhp (462 kW; 629 PS) of the customer Ford Cosworth and Judd V8s and the Lamborghini V12 being used by most of the other teams. It was also unfavorable in comparison to the 650 bhp (485 kW; 659 PS) - 700 bhp (522 kW; 710 PS) bhp of the top four engines, the V10's of Honda (McLaren) and Renault (Williams), the Ferrari V12, and the Ford V8 (Benetton). This made Schneider qualifying 21st for the following race in Japan all the more impressive.

The 891 was the last Formula One car to be produced by Zakspeed as the team pulled out of Grand Prix racing following the 1989 season. Yamaha also pulled out of Formula One at the end of the year, but would return with the Brabham team in 1991.

Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts. WCC
1989 West Zakspeed Racing Yamaha OX88
V8
P BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 0 NC
Bernd Schneider Ret DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ Ret DNPQ
Aguri Suzuki DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ DNPQ

References

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  1. ^ "STATS F1 • Zakspeed 891". Statsf1.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  2. ^ StatsF1 - Yamaha OX88
Books
  • Roebuck, Nigel; Tremayne, David; Hamilton, Maurice; Saward, Joe (1990). Grand Prix World Formula One Championship 1989/90. Magenta Press Ltd. ISBN 0-908081-99-5.