French
team Signature has designed an own car for the Formula 3 Euro Series.
The R1 is the result of a cooperation of the former F1 engineer
Paolo Catone and Signature's Technical Director, Lionel Chevalier.
According to Signature, Catone's F1 experience has massively influenced
the design of the new car; an influence that led to technical developments
never before used for a Formula 3 car, such as the extremely compact
rear of the R1. A compactness that was made possible thanks to the
use of an Opel engine specially designed by Spiess Tuning and a
very compact Ralt gearbox. The entire aerodynamics development for
the new Signature car was carried out in the wind tunnel of the
former Formula 1 team Prost.
Nicolas
Lapierre, the third placed driver in the past Formula 3 Euro Series
season, has executed the R1's shakedown at Lurcy-Levis already last
week. Should the R1 deliver in style during the coming tests, Signature
will use the car for the 2005 Formula 3 Euro Series season. Apart
from Signature, Dallara, Lola, Dome, Mygale and Martini have also
designed new Formula 3 cars for the 2005 season
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