698 Connaught A type (1952)
Connaught A type (1952-53) Production 9
Chassis Number A4 Production 9
Race Number 300 (not in the event programme)
Regular Drivers: David Wenman and Barrie Whizzo Williams
CONNAUGHT SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157625396139488
The Connaight A Type was the L series sports car, designed as a two seater sports racer for Kenneth McAlpine using parts sourced at Lea-Francis, in which McAlpine drove to 4th place at the 1949 Bugatti Owners Club meeting. During 1950 the L-Series was further developed for production and the company decided to expand their racing activities into single seater racing.
The newly created Formula 2 catagory was the ideal starting point, combining an International calendar without the vast expense of Formula 1 Grand Prix racing.
The A series shared thee same basic Lea Francis engine of the L series but the heavy cast iron was abandoned in favour of an alloy block that was developed in conjunction with Laystall Engineering. By boring out the cylinders, the displacement was brought up to the two-litre limit from the original 1767 cc. What was retained was the valve drive consisting of two camshafts mounted in the block on either side. They actuated the valves with short pushrods. Fuel was fed to the engine through modified motorcycle carburettors, though late in the series life the Works cars used Hilborn-Travers Fuel Injection.
The chassis was a new simple design of lightweight construction It was a ladder frame constructed of two steel oval tubes. The first/test car featured independent suspension by wishbones all-round. After a few races the rear wishbones were discarded and replaced by a more advanced DeDion axle. The power was transferred to the rear wheels through a close-ratio Wilson pre-selector gearbox. Hydraulically assisted drum brakes provided the stopping power. Covered in a thin aluminium skin, the A-Series or A-Type Connaught was exceptionally light weighing in at under 600 kg.
In International events the Connaught scored its first victory in August 1951 in a F2 race at Ibsley with McAlpine driving.
As the A type was entering series production it was announced that the 1952. world championship would be run for Formula 2 cars instead of Formula 1. After Alfa Romeo's withdrawal from racing, this was the only way to get full and above varied grids for the Grands Prix. The production cars were the first to feature the full two litre engine and at the first major race the first chassis was also upgraded to two litre spec. The Connaught was popular with the privateers, but it struggled against the newly developed four cylinder Ferrari 500, which won every Grand Prix of the season. In British events the Connaught was still highly competitive and several victories were scored in the 1952 season.
Hilborn-Travers Fuel Injection was introduced on the new 1953 Works cars, which also featured a slightly longer wheelbase. Again the Connaught struggled at international events, but were often victorious in minor races. Most of British finest drivers like Roy Salvadori, Stirling Moss and Tony Rolt raced the Connaught. For 1954 new Formula 1 regulations were introduced with a displacement limit of 2.5 litres for Naturally Aspirated engines, spurring the developement of the Connaught B series.
Shot at the VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone 20-21 April 2013 REF:90C-698
698 Connaught A type (1952)
Connaught A type (1952-53) Production 9
Chassis Number A4 Production 9
Race Number 300 (not in the event programme)
Regular Drivers: David Wenman and Barrie Whizzo Williams
CONNAUGHT SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157625396139488
The Connaight A Type was the L series sports car, designed as a two seater sports racer for Kenneth McAlpine using parts sourced at Lea-Francis, in which McAlpine drove to 4th place at the 1949 Bugatti Owners Club meeting. During 1950 the L-Series was further developed for production and the company decided to expand their racing activities into single seater racing.
The newly created Formula 2 catagory was the ideal starting point, combining an International calendar without the vast expense of Formula 1 Grand Prix racing.
The A series shared thee same basic Lea Francis engine of the L series but the heavy cast iron was abandoned in favour of an alloy block that was developed in conjunction with Laystall Engineering. By boring out the cylinders, the displacement was brought up to the two-litre limit from the original 1767 cc. What was retained was the valve drive consisting of two camshafts mounted in the block on either side. They actuated the valves with short pushrods. Fuel was fed to the engine through modified motorcycle carburettors, though late in the series life the Works cars used Hilborn-Travers Fuel Injection.
The chassis was a new simple design of lightweight construction It was a ladder frame constructed of two steel oval tubes. The first/test car featured independent suspension by wishbones all-round. After a few races the rear wishbones were discarded and replaced by a more advanced DeDion axle. The power was transferred to the rear wheels through a close-ratio Wilson pre-selector gearbox. Hydraulically assisted drum brakes provided the stopping power. Covered in a thin aluminium skin, the A-Series or A-Type Connaught was exceptionally light weighing in at under 600 kg.
In International events the Connaught scored its first victory in August 1951 in a F2 race at Ibsley with McAlpine driving.
As the A type was entering series production it was announced that the 1952. world championship would be run for Formula 2 cars instead of Formula 1. After Alfa Romeo's withdrawal from racing, this was the only way to get full and above varied grids for the Grands Prix. The production cars were the first to feature the full two litre engine and at the first major race the first chassis was also upgraded to two litre spec. The Connaught was popular with the privateers, but it struggled against the newly developed four cylinder Ferrari 500, which won every Grand Prix of the season. In British events the Connaught was still highly competitive and several victories were scored in the 1952 season.
Hilborn-Travers Fuel Injection was introduced on the new 1953 Works cars, which also featured a slightly longer wheelbase. Again the Connaught struggled at international events, but were often victorious in minor races. Most of British finest drivers like Roy Salvadori, Stirling Moss and Tony Rolt raced the Connaught. For 1954 new Formula 1 regulations were introduced with a displacement limit of 2.5 litres for Naturally Aspirated engines, spurring the developement of the Connaught B series.
Shot at the VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone 20-21 April 2013 REF:90C-698