Tuesday 5 February 2019

1/43 Model Review: 1994 Pacific PR01 Ilmor

Background

The first Pacific Grand Prix car which raced in 1994 was the PR01. It was initially designed for the 1993 season, but due to financial problems had to amend and race the car a year later. It was significantly slower than the other cars, often failing to qualify. When it did, it failed to finish any races. The team would last another season, in which it fared a little better, but these small teams trying to punch above its weight is why we love these cars. Bertrand Gachot and Paul Belmondo were its drivers. By all accounts it was all pretty rubbish, and there's a humourous parody Twitter account that you can find here:
https://twitter.com/PacificRacingF1?lang=en

Pacific had issues with the high nose, and tested with closing the gap under the high nose which they did with duct tape! They eventually went to a low nose solution, not that it helped them get on the grid.


There's a great article written below about how the origins of this design done by Adrian Reynard was the basis for the worst car of the grid, this Pacific PR01, and the for fastest car on the grid, the Benetton B194 (albeit several iterations on).

www.unracedf1.com

Onyx/Heritage Formula

Onyx 199
The shape is clearly the Benetton B192 shape by Onyx, and bearing in mind the cars had the same origins, who could blame Onyx for doing so. 
Score 4/10

There are no alternative models of this car. I found a 1/20 Tamiya decal set for the Benetton B192 shape, but that is as close as I have got.

So if any of the current manufacturers decided to make this car, I suspect they would be snapped up quickly and their value instantly go up.

For more 1994 Model Reviews, click here: https://fongugp4.blogspot.com/p/1994-model-review.html
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