Category Formula One Designer(s) Tony Southgate Chassis Aluminium monocoque | Constructor Shadow Racing Cars Successor DN3 | |
 | ||
Axle track Front: 1,473 mm (58.0 in)
Rear: 1,524 mm (60.0 in) | ||
The Shadow DN1 was a Formula One car used by the Shadow team during the 1973 Formula One season and the early stages of the following season. The car was the first Formula One car for Shadow, which had previously participated in the CanAm Sportscar Series. It was designed by former BRM engineer Tony Southgate. The DN1 was also driven by Graham Hill for his privateer team, Embassy Hill.
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Development
The Shadow DN1 was to be the first car for Don Nichols' Formula One team, newly established to participate in the 1973 Formula One season. The team did have some racing expertise, having participated in the CanAm Sportscar Series and also bringing in experienced British racing personnel including engineer Tony Southgate and manager Alan Rees. Designed by Southgate, the DN1 used an aluminum monocoque and double wishbone suspension and was powered by a Cosworth DFV. The car had problems with rigidity; having previously only worked with V12 engines, Southgate did not allow sufficient stiffening to compensate for the vibration of the DFV. The car was finished in an all black scheme, with sponsorship from UOP.
Racing history
Shadow missed the first two races of the 1973 season, but the team arrived in South Africa for the South African Grand Prix with two entries for its drivers. The lead driver for Shadow was the experienced former BRM and Team Lotus driver Jackie Oliver while driving the other car was George Follmer who, although a novice in Formula One, had extensive experience in sportscar racing. Follmer finished sixth in South Africa, and followed this performance up with third in the following race. Oliver took another third place for the team in the penultimate race of the year in Canada. Shadow entered a third car for Brian Redman for the final race of the year but he failed to add to the team's points tally for the year. Shadow finished the year with nine points and eighth place in the constructor's championship.
In 1974, the DN1 was superseded by the Shadow DN3 although new Shadow driver Jean-Pierre Jarier had to drive the DN1 for his first two races of the year, retiring from both.
Embassy Hill
Graham Hill also used the Shadow DN1 during the 1973 season for his newly established team, Embassy Racing. Driving the team's only entry, which ran in a largely white scheme, Hill failed to score any points with the DN1. His best finish was ninth at the Belgian Grand Prix. Embassy Hill switched to Lolas for the following season.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap.)
* all points scored in 1974 was with the DN3