Spirit Racing

Thierry Boutsen's F2 Spirit 201

Spirit's first Formula One chassis, the 201C.

Spirit Racing was a racing car constructor and racing team from Britain, who participated in 25 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix between 1983 and 1985.

Founded in 1981 by Gordon Coppuck and John Wickham, Spirit had a close relationship with Honda. Indeed, despite being relatively new entrants to the formula, Spirit were selected to use Honda's RA series 2-litre V6 engine in the European Formula Two Championship in 1982. In 1983 they debuted in Formula One, using their 201 F2 chassis, driven by Stefan Johansson, and again employing a Honda engine - this time helping Honda to make a low-key debut with their 1.5-litre turbocharged version of the F2 engine. They debuted at the 1983 British Grand Prix, with their best result 7th at the 1983 Dutch Grand Prix.

Spirit began work on a dedicated Formula One car, the Spirit 101, for 1984, but Honda suddenly switched their support to the Williams team, leaving Spirit to use the lower powered Hart 4-cylinder Turbo engine (Honda's rapid departure from Williams at the end of 1987 has distinct parallels with their ditching of Spirit). With Mauro Baldi driving, the car was a distinct tail-ender, and ran no better when Huub Rothengatter took over from the Canadian Grand Prix onwards. Baldi returned for the last two races of the season when Rothengatter's finances ran out, but results were mainly negative. The car often failed to finish, and when it did was usually at or near the end of those still running. The team's best results were 8th places, scored by Baldi in the South African Grand Prix and San Marino Grand Prix, and Rothengatter at the Italian Grand Prix. Emerson Fittipaldi expressed interest in testing a Spirit on his return to racing but this did not turn into a return to F1 or an upturn in Spirit's fortunes.

Despite a huge lack of funds, the team began the 1985 season with Baldi and the upgraded 101D, still with the Hart turbo. After three failures to finish in the opening three races, the team folded. The team sold its tyre contract to Toleman who had been unable to start the 1985 season after not being able to secure their own supply of rubber.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1983	Spirit 201 Spirit 201C	Honda V6 (t/c)	G		BRA	USW	FRA	SMR	MON	BEL	DET	CAN	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	RSA		0	-
				Stefan Johansson									Ret	Ret	12	7	Ret	14
1984	Spirit 101 Spirit 101B Spirit 101C	Hart 4 in-line (t/c) Ford V8	P		BRA	RSA	BEL	SMR	FRA	MON	CAN	DET	DAL	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	POR	0	-
				Mauro Baldi	Ret	8	Ret	8	Ret	DNQ									8	15
				Huub Rothengatter							Ret	DNQ	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	8
1985	Spirit 101D	Hart 4 in-line (t/c)	P		BRA	POR	SMR	MON	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	BEL	EUR	RSA	AUS	0	-
				Mauro Baldi	Ret	Ret	Ret

1982 Formula 2 results

Year	Name	Country	Team	Chassis	Engine														Total Points
1982	Thierry Boutsen	Belgium	Team Spirit	Spirit	Honda	-	6	4	9	3	1	6	9	-	-	3	9	(1)	50 (3rd in standings)
1982	Stefan Johansson	Sweden	Team Spirit	Spirit	Honda	-	-	-	1	4	3	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	11 (8th in standings)

For every race points were awarded: 9 points to the winner, 6 for runner up, 4 for third place, 3 for fourth place, 2 for fifth place and 1 for sixth place. No additional points were awarded. The best 9 results count. Boutsen had a point deduction, marked with () at the final race.