Team story
Origins
Nick Wirth turned Simtek’s design activities into a Formula 1 team in 1994. The Ford-Cosworth-powered S941 was entrusted to David Brabham and Roland Ratzenberger. The name came from Simulation Technology: before fielding its own cars, the research company had been founded by Wirth together with Max Mosley.
The Formula 1 journey
Ratzenberger contested the Pacific Grand Prix, appearing eleventh after 78 laps, but died in qualifying for the next race at Imola. Several drivers occupied the second cockpit, including Andrea Montermini, who was injured in a practice accident in Spain. Jean-Marc Gounon secured ninth in France, the team’s best World Championship placing.
Historical timeline
Three chapters in the story of Simtek
Three episodes to revisit the people, cars and races that shaped this journey.
First appearance · Brazilian Grand Prix
David Brabham · Brazilian Grand Prix 1994. The recorded position is P12; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the first recorded race start, or the first entry if the team never started a race.
Sporting landmark · French Grand Prix
Jean-Marc Gounon · French Grand Prix 1994. The recorded position is P9; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This marks the first win or podium where one exists, otherwise the highest recorded placing for this constructor.
Latest recorded appearance · Spanish Grand Prix
Domenico Schiattarella · Spanish Grand Prix 1995. The recorded position is P15; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the last race start attributed to this constructor in the archive, not necessarily the end of the organisation behind it.
A distinctive way of racing
The 1995 S951 also used a gearbox sourced from Benetton; Jos Verstappen partnered Domenico Schiattarella. The material support offered scope for progress without resolving the cash problems. Wirth’s ability to design a single-seater did not equate to the team’s ability to finance development, spare parts and travel for an entire season.
What remains
The last trip was Monaco in 1995. After the initial stoppage, Verstappen and Schiattarella could not take the second start: the gearbox stopped the Dutchman, while the Italian’s car was not recovered in time. The subsequent halt to operations left the second car without a successor.
Brabham, Gounon and Verstappen belong to the team’s sporting history alongside Ratzenberger: the attempt to continue produced results and developments of its own before financial difficulties closed the programme.