After some 50 years of automobile racing, the Grand Prix Formula, or Formula One, was created by the FIA (Federation Internationale de L’Automobile) in 1950, with its first race the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This was to be the first World Drivers Championship, in the world’s most technically advanced single-seater racing cars. In 1958 the World Constructors Championship was added so that all would at last know who the best driver in the world was as well as which manufacturer had constructed the best car. This guide will cover the period of 1966-1983 for cars built to a 500 kilograms to 585 kilograms weight minimum, and powered by 3.0-liter normally aspirated engines.
Formula One started from very humble beginnings.,with teams comprised of groups of talented people working out of small garages, trying to find the money to go racing. During this time the miracle of the racing sponsor was created, and teams grew in size. Great inventions were designed, such as the Cosworth DFV engine, the slick racing tire, aerodynamic aids ranging from simple wings to full ground-effects. This was when the English racing car industry’s constructors relied heavily on Cosworth engines and Hewland gearboxes. World Champion drivers included Andretti, Brabham, Fittipaldi, Hill, Hulme, Hunt, Jones, Lauda, Piquet, Rindt, Rosberg, Scheckter and Stewart.
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