Peter Šmak
Connoisseurs Formula 1 we know he was Nigel Mansell the first racer to be in the inaugural race of the season 1989 used semi-automatic transmission in the race car under which he signed John Barnard. The mustachioed Englishman won the race, innovation however, all other teams also copied into their race cars. It is true that he was John Barnard the first to have the courage to abolish classic gear lever, in exchange for paddles on the steering wheel. With this he also reaped all the accompanying glory, and yet the gray-haired gentleman has made a considerable contribution to this even today Mauro Forghieri, which has been testing a similar solution for years 1979, so as much as ten years earlier, with Gilles Villeneuve on the trail v Fioran. So what is it Fury prevent v history recorded also with a semi-automatic transmission?
To answer, we have to move into the year 1979, which was in Formulas 1 groundbreaking from the point of view of application turbo engines. Renault, who only bet on 1.5 liter turbo engine, with six first places, four podiums and a first victory, announced that turbo era knocking on the door, which some other teams were also aware of. He was among them, too Ferrari, that's why Mauro forghieri already thinking about what I could do to make the introduction of turbo engines easier. He was aware that with implementation of a turbocharged engine, as they were known at the time, there may have been major delays in engine responsiveness, which would require the racer to be quite different, rough and physical a strenuous approach when changing gears. An assumption that later turned out to be even more accurate.
That's right Mauro with his team studying how to develop some species semi-automatic transmission, which would allow the racer continuous posture steering wheel when shifting at the same time, which would also make the shifting time shorter. In doing so, they relied on a solution sequential gearbox, which they used racing motorcycles, being for switch off in gear shifting used hydraulic cylinders. The direction of thinking was right, and the realization was not at all simple given the fact that it was electronic support system at an early stage. Besides, they were steering mechanisms heavy and large, needed to be developed and integrated further pump on the gearbox, which took care of enough pressure in hydraulic system. In short, it was a lot technical issues and even more possible answers. To make the measure full, the team did all this in secret because of this prototype Enzo Ferrari he was not allowed to know absolutely nothing. Commander he never wanted to wander in the dark and Mauro he knew he would not allow such tests spending money and time.
In contrast, the boys were in technical team all in turn engineeringly enthusiastic about the solution. He was selected for the test mule Ferrari 312 T3, in which, with some patience, they only inserted the components of the new solution. This one did not anticipate steering wheel levers gearbox, however two buttons on the steering wheel. With one he put the racer in gear and with the other he shifted between gears. That it is about prototype in the initial stage, they also confirmed electrical wires to transfer commands between the buttons and the control unit protruding along the steering wheel bars. Ferrari, or more precisely Forghieri semi-automatic transmission, is so one summer day of the year 1979, debuted on the track in Fioranand the honor went to her Gilles Villenueve. Canadian racer, drove without major problems 100 rounds, and the time per lap was on average slightly better than that with a normal gearbox, which was for Mauro Forghieri good news and confirmation of the meaning of the idea.
Gilles Villeneuve, which has always been direct and honest in his statements, but after he got out of the car and took off his helmet, Mauro said: “The transmission works, but I’m very worried about all those wires around the steering wheel. Don't get me wrong and count as bad, but I wouldn't want to use this gearbox and I'd rather talk to Ferrari about it. ” He really went to Enza Ferrari and explained to him that he could not drive a race car and think in every lap when something would shake him. Ferrari, which was, as has been said, in itself averse to such news, stepped on Villenueve's side and the development of novelty had to stop and wait for more favorable conditions.
Today forghieri says: “We would never race with a configuration like the prototype had, all the electric wires would be protected and of course none would protrude from the steering wheel, but Enzo Ferrari promised Gilles that with that ‘devil’ he would no longer have to be on the track, so we put the matter in a drawer until it was brought to light in 1988 by John Barnard."
