The Petrolhead Nook – An Ode To The Cosworth DFV V8

In terms of naming icons on the planet of racing, individuals primarily concentrate on drivers, constructors, or possibly a particular automotive. And that’s completely wonderful, as names reminiscent of Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Jim Clark, Stirling Moss, Mario Andretti and numerous others are recognized for his or her performances on (and generally off) observe. The identical goes for constructors, with illustrious names like Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Tyrrell, Lotus, Alfa Romeo, and Jaguar dominating the racing scene for years and even many years on finish. And I’m prepared to guess everybody studying this can immediately visualise a picture of the next vehicles: Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 917K, Lotus 72D, Maserati 250F, Ford GT40, McLaren F1 GTR. However what about engines? Nobody actually cares, proper? Not even when it’s an all-conquering V8 that dominated Method 1 for over a decade? Effectively, I do, and it’s best to, too, since I’m speaking concerning the legendary Cosworth DFV!

The V8 engine referred to as the Cosworth DFV will not be alone relating to being well-known. Machines like the Colombo 3.0L V12 by Ferrari, the flat-six from Porsche, the RB26DETT from Nissan, and even the unconventional R26B Wankel engine from Mazda’s Le Mans-winning 787B all gained the standing of iconic. Nevertheless, whereas all these engines might need been very profitable, few can rival the unbelievable success of the DFV V8 by Cosworth. It’s not simply the sheer variety of victories and championships but additionally the size of its profession and vast use that consolidated it as one of many best racing engines ever. Positive, some could be extra highly effective or extra unique, however the Cosworth DFV V8 just about guidelines all of them.

The origins of Cosworth

The identify Cosworth is intertwined with sports activities and racing vehicles and has been linked to many iconic vehicles all through the years. Most famously, maybe, for the Ford Sierra and Escort Cosworth vehicles, however Cosworth additionally builds the screaming usually aspirated 1,000 horsepower V12 within the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Cosworth has had a major affect within the historical past of vehicles, that a lot is for certain, however how did all of it begin?

The Cosworth automotive engineering agency was based in 1958 by Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth. The corporate specialised in high-performance inside combustion engines, powertrains, electronics and whatnot, primarily geared toward racing. Whereas working for Lotus, the British engineers engaged over a shared ardour for vehicles and racing. Keith Duckworth left Lotus in 1958, however Mike Costin stayed beneath Lotus employment till 1962. Having very shut ties with Colin Chapman, many of the preliminary initiatives (and subsequently funding) for Cosworth additionally got here from Lotus.

Within the early days, the main target was on small-capacity engines, typically beneath 1.5 litre in measurement, constructed for varied kinds of racing. Primarily utilized in Method Junior with light-weight sports activities vehicles just like the Lotus Cortina, Cosworth engines would even be planted in street vehicles. The authentic Lotus Seven, as an illustration, was powered by a Costworth-designed 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, the MKV. Many of the earliest builds can be delivered solely to Lotus, however afterward, different producers began using Cosworth as properly. All this might inevitably result in the development of what most think about the best racing engine ever made.

Double 4 Valve

The Cosworth DFV V8 is the results of two issues. Firstly, it resulted from the announcement that Coventry-Climax would cease constructing racing engines after the 1969 F1 season. And secondly, it responds to maybe some of the important rule modifications in Method 1 historical past. In 1966 the choice was made to permit two kinds of engines, breaking with the 1.5-litre laws in place in the course of the first half of the last decade. From then on, constructors may use a usually aspirated engine with a most capability of three.0 litres or a forced-induction engine with a 1.5 litre capability. The configuration of both of the 2 kinds of engines was as much as the groups and constructors.

This determination took lots of the engine builders and racing groups without warning, nevertheless it opened the door for Cosworth and its well-known DFV V8. As soon as once more, Cosworth turned to Colin Chapman to construct a brand new engine beneath the brand new 3.0-litre regulation that might change the outgoing Coventry-Climax engines Lotus used on the time. He managed to get Ford on board to fund the event of the all-new engine, stipulating that it was unique to Lotus in its first season of working. A Ford Method 2 engine can be used as a base, the FVA-designated engine earlier than the V8 would start improvement.

The ensuing V8 would have a 90° angle between the cylinder banks and a most capability of two,992.98 cc’s, so very near the stipulated 3.0-litre max capability. With a rev restrict of 9,000rpm, it produced 410 horsepower. On the time, it was not essentially the most highly effective engine in Method 1, nevertheless it had a number of benefits over others that made it an enormous success. At first, Lotus’ Colin Chapman and his genius engineering abilities!

167 Wins, 22 titles

The Cosworth DFV V8 made its grand debut within the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort with the brand new Lotus 49 Method 1 automotive. With Jim Clark behind the wheel, Lotus gained the race, a lot to the shock of the opposite groups! The place did this engine come from? What made it win on its first outing? How may it beat extra highly effective engines so simply? A part of that’s right down to the design of the Lotus 49. That is thought to be the primary Method 1 automotive the place the engine is a structural a part of the chassis, with the rear suspension mounted on to it. This saved weight, elevated rigidity and improved dealing with to such an extent that the Lotus 49 would win three extra races that yr with Jim Clark coming in third within the drivers championship (Denny Hulme and Jack Brabham got here in 1st and 2nd) and second within the constructor’s championship (behind Brabham-Repco).

It could be the beginning of an period of utter dominance, although, because the Cosworth DFV V8 would win all however one of many races within the 1968 season and each race in 1969. Seven consecutive driver titles would observe, three with Lotus, two with Tyrrell, one with Matra and one with McLaren. In 1975 Ferrari gained each titles, however the DFV continued its successful streak with 5 extra drivers championship between 1976 and 1982. Within the constructor’s championship, 10 titles had been gained by vehicles utilizing the DFV. And the statistics don’t finish there. The DFV clinched 167 race wins over 20 years. It could be up to date thrice earlier than lastly heading for retirement after the 1991 Method 1 season. Throughout these years, energy grew from 410 horsepower to over 600 horsepower. Its dominance was finally ended by the introduction of turbocharged engines in Method 1 within the mid-Eighties, which pushed the powerband to 1,000 horsepower and over.

Nevertheless it wasn’t simply profitable in Method 1, as different derivatives of the legendary 3.0-litre Cosworth DFV V8 would go on to win the Indy 500 ten occasions in a row, the Le Mans 24 Hours twice and a number of titles in Method 3000, USAC racing, and CART. It’s just about a given undeniable fact that so successful charge won’t ever occur once more, as rule modifications that permit for such dominance are unlikely. So with that, the Cosworth DFV V8 was, is, and eternally would be the best racing engine ever made!

Editorial Be aware: The photographs are sourced from a choice of earlier articles, Scramblers.bicesterheritage.co.uk, ClassicDriver.com, Motortrend.com, ClassicTeamLotus.co.uk and Wikipedia.org