Formula 1 Subaru Flat-12

Formula 1 Subaru Flat-12:

Formula 1 Subaru Flat-12: By the beginning of 1990, the Subaru flat engine was not producing more than 500 bhp, so the Coloni Subaru was by far the least competitive machine regularly competing in Formula One in 1990.
Formula 1 Subaru Flat-12: By the beginning of 1990, the Subaru flat engine was not producing more than 500 bhp, so the Coloni Subaru was by far the least competitive machine regularly competing in Formula One in 1990.

By the beginning of 1990, the Subaru flat engine was not producing more than 500 bhp, so the Coloni Subaru was by far the least competitive machine regularly competing in Formula One in 1990. Subaru and Chiti agreed to build a new V12 engine for summer 1990 together with a completely new chassis, but in the meantime the flat engine should be used by the Coloni Subaru Team in a carry-over chassis. Early in 1990, a handful of Enzo Coloni’s mechanics worked on a single C3 and tried to put the Subaru engine in it. The work was not done until the day the FIA started shipping the Formula One material to Phoenix.

In the pits at Phoenix, the car was assembled for the very first time, and a short private practice took place on a parking area of an American supermarket. On prequalification day of Phoenix the world saw Coloni’s new model C3B which wore a white, red, and green livery.

Without an airbox but with wide, long sidepods, it looked unusual, was overweight by 300 pounds and nearly impossible to handle. Bertrand Gachot, Coloni’s new driver, was unable to pre-qualify the car at Phoenix or at any other event.