Benetton B197

Benetton B197
	Alexander Wurz driving the B197 at the 1997 British Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Benetton
Designer(s)	Pat Symonds (Technical Director); Nick Wirth (Chief Designer); Nikolas Tombazis (Head of Aerodynamics) ; Bernard Dudot (Chief Engine Designer) (Renault)
Predecessor	B196
Successor	B198
Technical specifications
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	double wishbones, pushrod, triple damper
Suspension (rear)	double wishbones, pushrod, double damper
Engine	Renault RS9/RS9A/RS9B, 71° V10
Transmission	Benetton six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power	730-755 hp @ 17,000 rpm
Fuel	Agip
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Mild Seven Benetton Renault
Notable drivers	7. Jean Alesi; 8. Gerhard Berger; 8. Alexander Wurz
Debut	1997 Australian Grand Prix
First win	1997 German Grand Prix
Last win	1997 German Grand Prix
Last event	1997 European Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Benetton B197 is a Formula One racing car with which the Benetton team competed in the 1997 Formula One World Championship. There it was driven by Frenchman Jean Alesi and Austrian Gerhard Berger, who were both in their second season with the team. However, Berger was forced to sit out three races in the middle of the season due to sinus problems, and compatriot Alexander Wurz made his F1 début by deputising for him, starting at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Overview

The car is a further development of the previous year's B196, from which both drivers had struggled to extract maximum performance. The B197 proved competitive at nearly every race, but only scored one win, courtesy of Berger on his return to the cockpit in Germany. The main problem with the car was its inability to bring its tyres up to temperature on low-grip circuits, particularly in qualifying. However, Berger and Alesi did secure one pole position each during the course of the season. By the end of the season, it was clear that Benetton would adopt a new driver line-up for 1998, with Berger retiring and Alesi moving to Sauber.

The team eventually finished third in the Constructors' Championship, with 67 points.

The Benetton B197 was the last Benetton Formula 1 car to utilize fully-fledged Renault engines until the B201 in 2001 season due to the company's repositioning to privatisation plan.

Jean Alesi driving the B197 at the 1997 Italian Grand Prix

Sponsorship and livery

The B197 was still painted in white and blue with additional red accents from a new sponsor Akai. FedEx and Gillette also joined the team.

Benetton used the Mild Seven logos, except at the French, British and German Grands Prix.

BOSS GP

Ulf Ehninger driving the B197 at the Red Bull Ring

The B197 was still currently active in the BOSS GP. The original Renault engine were swapped out with a Judd engine.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
1997	Mild Seven Benetton Renault	Renault V10	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	AUT	LUX	JPN	EUR	67	3rd
				Jean Alesi	Ret	6	7	5	Ret	3	2	5	2	6	11	8	2	Ret	2	5	13
				Gerhard Berger	4	2	6	Ret	9	10				1	8	6	7	10	4	8	4
				Alexander Wurz							Ret	Ret	3

References

^ "3rd Naturally-Aspirated Era (3NA), Part 2, 1995 - 2000; Egs. 79 to 85. The 3 Litre Formula" (PDF). grandprixengines.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2023.

AUTOCOURSE 1997–98, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1997) ISBN 978-1-874557-47-0

External links

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[1] "3rd Naturally-Aspirated Era (3NA), Part 2, 1995 - 2000; Egs. 79 to 85. The 3 Litre Formula" (PDF). grandprixengines.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2023.

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