1/43 Model Review: 1994 Sauber C13 Mercedes

It was announced last week that the Sauber name will depart from the sport for the first time since 1993. It's sad to see the heritage of the name be completely replaced by Alfa Romeo, as welcome as they were was when it was introduced for the 2018 season. Even through the BMW days when the team was entirely owned by the manufacturer, they were still called BMW Sauber. So I for one will be sad to see the name go. But here is a reminder of one of the more eventful seasons of their history.

Background

Following an impressive debut season, the 1994 season would again see Sauber challenge for the lower points scoring positions. After a huge accident at Monaco to Karl Wendlinger, the race after that weekend at Imola, the team developed higher cockpit sides to protect their driver. This development would be mandatory from the 1996 season. Andrea De Cesaris would fill his seat from the Canadian GP onwards, his 200th GP, but Wendlinger was due to come back for the final two GP's but that did not go ahead. The team tried to contact De Cesaris, but were unable to get a hold of him on holiday, so JJ Lehto who drove for them in 1993, freshly dropped by Benetton, filled the seat and De Cesaris retired. The team finished 8th in the Constructors' title.

Heinz-Harold Frentzen drove the entire season for the team, his debut year. He had a fan in Frank Williams early on, with reports he was going to be called up to Williams after Senna's tragic death, but the German decided to stay with Sauber, earning a Williams seat in 1997.

1994 saw the team run Mercedes-Benz engines, though they were rebadged Ilmor engines, but they received full manufacturer backing, harking back to their successful sports car partnership earlier that decade. However it only lasted for one season, with McLaren snatching the deal from 1995 through to 2009 when Mercedes became a full constructor once more, and I'd say they're doing pretty well.

Onyx / Heritage Formula

Onyx 193A

The car started the season with Broker sponsorship, and ran a black livery very similar to their 1993, except for silver endplates front and rear. The shape itself is a bit basic, it's recognizable enough, but at the same time it's not particularly accurate either.
Score 4/10

Onyx 193B

When De Cesaris arrived from Jordan to run for the team at the Canadian Grand Prix, his 200th race, Sauber celebrated with this one off livery. The nice livery bumps up the score from the early season version.
Score 5/10

Onyx 194B

By the French Grand Prix, the Broker logos were replaced by Tissot ones and at the German Grand Prix, this lovely livery with white spots and a large watch in front of the driver ran till the end of the season. The only thing to note is the lack of change in the shape from Onyx, as was common at that time.
Score 4/10

Minichamps

Minichamps 430940030

Minichamps released their own version of the three liveries seen that year. The shape of the car is an improvement on the Onyx shape, much closer to the real thing.
Score 6/10

Minichamps 430940129

At the Canadian Grand Prix, Sauber introduced their raised cockpit sides solution - still in bare carbon fibre at that time. Minichamps at least made an effort to add this to their model.
Score 7/10

Minichamps 430940229

Minichamps also released their updated cockpit sides with the late season livery, specifically from the German GP. However there are no further changes to the shape inline with the regulations from that part of the season. The late season Sauber also had barge boards and rounded sidepods along the top edge, rather than the indent they ran on the early season car - but again this is not reflected in this model. We also don't have a release with Lehto in the car.
Score 6/10

BBR

BBR Met13/Met26

BBR released both versions of the Sauber, with correct shapes for both parts of the season. There's a nicely built version of the late season car in this link:
https://www.racingdioramics.us/1994_Sauber.html
The BBR version, is in my opinion, the nicest of the lot.
Score 9/10

Tameo

Tameo TMK192

Tameo have also released their version of the late season shape, pictured here in the De Cesaris Canadian GP livery. The Tameo kits are always of the highest standard, but I think the BBR car just edges it for me in its resemblance to the real car.
Score 8/10

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