Arrows A8

Arrows A8
	Thierry Boutsen driving the A8 at the 1985 European Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Arrows
Designer(s)	Dave Wass
Predecessor	A7
Successor	A9
Technical specifications
Chassis	Aluminium and carbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, push-rod dampers
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, pull-rod dampers
Axle track	Front: 1,778 mm (70.0 in); Rear: 1,651 mm (65.0 in)
Wheelbase	2,794 mm (110.0 in)
Engine	BMW M12/13, 1,499 cc (91.5 cu in), Straight 4, turbocharged, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Hewland 5-speed manual
Weight	545 kg (1,202 lb)
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Barclay Arrows BMW
Notable drivers	Gerhard Berger; Thierry Boutsen; Marc Surer; Christian Danner
Debut	1985 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last event	1986 Australian Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Arrows A8 was a Formula One car, designed by Dave Wass, which the Arrows team used to compete in the 1985 and 1986 Formula One seasons. Powered by the BMW M12 turbocharged engine, its best finish was when Thierry Boutsen drove it to second place at the 1985 San Marino Grand Prix.

Design and development

The A8 was designed by Dave Wass and utilised a carbon-composite tub behind which was mounted the BMW M12 turbocharged engine, the team continuing the use of this powerplant from the previous season. The engines were maintained by Swiss engine guru Heini Mader. A total of five A8 cars were built for 1985.^[2]

Racing history

1985 season

For 1985, Arrows continued with the Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen while Gerhard Berger was contracted to drive the second entry. A podium finish was achieved by Boutsen at Imola where he placed third but was later moved to second when winner Alain Prost's McLaren was disqualified for being underweight. Boutsen himself was lucky to finish the race having run out of fuel within sight of the flag, though he had enough momentum to be able to coast over the line still in third place. This proved to be the A8's high point as it was never again driven to a podium finish.

The A8 scored 14 points during the 1985 season, placing Arrows eighth in the Constructors' Championship.

1986 season

Arrows continued with the A8 for the 1986 season, with Marc Surer and Christian Danner nominated as drivers. The team could only place tenth in the Constructors' Championship final standings due to Danner scoring a solitary point for sixth place at the 1986 Austrian Grand Prix.^[3] The team introduced a new car, the A9, midseason at the Austrian Grand Prix where it was driven by Boutsen. After qualifying 21st, Boutsen retired from the race with turbo failure. After a further two races at which it failed to finish, the A9 was shelved and the team persevered with the A8 for the remainder of the season.^[4]

While Heini Mader did a good job in maintaining the team's BMW engines, they lacked the power of the same engines powering the Brabham and later Benetton teams as those particular engines were continually maintained by BMW, giving them access to new parts, information and factory backed development that Mader did not have. This was shown in the results as the Arrows-BMWs rarely out-qualified or out-raced the Brabhams or Benettons.

Complete Formula One results

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

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1985	Barclay Arrows BMW	A8	BMW M12/13 Straight 4 tc	G		BRA	POR	SMR	MON	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	BEL	EUR	RSA	AUS	14	8th
					Gerhard Berger	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	11	Ret	8	7	Ret	9	Ret	7	10	5	6
					Thierry Boutsen	11	Ret	2	9	9	7	9	Ret	4	8	Ret	9	10	6	6	Ret
1986	Barclay Arrows BMW	A8	BMW M12/13 Straight 4 tc	G		BRA	ESP	SMR	MON	BEL	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	AUT	ITA	POR	MEX	AUS	1	10th
					Marc Surer	Ret	Ret	9	9	9	DNS
					Christian Danner							Ret	9	Ret	Ret		6	8	11	9	Ret
					Thierry Boutsen	Ret	7	7	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	NC	8		Ret		7	10	7	Ret