Carbon Fibre

[exhaust smoke]

Hi guys & gals,

I was wondering when carbon fibre was first used in motorsport. I have a TWR Jag on the list that was raced in the 1980's ETCC, and the instructions show certain areas in the interior as X-18 / semi gloss black and I was wondering whether it would be accurate to use c/f decal in these areas.

Thanks in advance...

[Vric]

Very good question. I was wondering the same with my '78 Porsche 935

[cfcrules]

I read somewhere cabon fibre was first used in F1 from the early 80's and not in road cars till the late 80's, I think the first was the F40

[exhaust smoke]

Originally Posted by cfcrules

I read somewhere cabon fibre was first used in F1 from the early 80's and not in road cars till the late 80's, I think the first was the F40

Hmmm....

I suppose F1 would be the most likely place for such 'exotic' materials to make their debut. The TWR Jag I'm building was raced in 1982. What are the possibilities of carbon fibre being used in this car? I wish TWR didn't go into liquidation, I would've contacted them to ask them about this car!

[SchuberT]

Howdy. I've been wondering about this same thing for a couple months now, and just now found the initiative to actually do some research.

After about an hour, I came up with only this:
http://www.research-racing.de/carbonfibre2.htm

According to the above link, McLaren Ford MP4/1 was the first F1 car ever to use a carbon fibre chassis.

None of the other sites I turned up had any dates, really.

However, I did some more searching a little more specific, and found this article...... which mentions "carbon-fiber mixed with kevlar" first being introduced to the F1 scene in 1982:
http://www.4mula1.ro/history/article/article7.html

If I turn anything else up concerning Le Mans or anything like that, I'll post it up.

[mike@af]

I believe the mid 70's.

[MPWR]

CF was definately used in the early 80's, but I couldn't say when it was first used as a major structural component. It would of course almost certainly have been used first in F1 (MP4/4), and perhaps Lemans. Before then, it would have appeared as bodywork and ductwork. So, depending on the component, it could have been contemporarily correct.

On the other hand, I don't get to follow ETCC much here in the states , but my understanding is that teams were/are severely limited as to the modifications to the basic road cars that can be made, and if CF wasn't on the model in the dealership, than it didn't race. If this Jag is contemprary with, say, Tamiya's BMW 635Csi Spa winner (82, I think?), I believe the only composites on that car were in the driver's seat. It had to use stock interior trim- which Tamiya would of course mark as X18....

[gasman03]

Werent the GT-40's from the 60's the race car to use Carbon Fiber. i'm pretty sure I read that somewhere

[sjelic]

Not to be a party braker but this was allreday asked before http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t289294.html

[mel79]

There's an illustrated article on TWR Jag on the current (well atleast the one I just saw yesterday at the newsagent..) Jaguar Owners Monthly. See if you can find it, it had pictures of the inside & outside of the TWR Jaguar.

-Mikko

[RallyRaider]

Don't know anything specific about touring cars but carbon fibre, especially kevlar was very common in rally cars in the early eighties. Kevlar is the yellow type material used on seat backs, doors, ducts and other things.

Like many good racing ideas c/f was pinched from the aerospace industry. Late seventies jets like the F-18 use carbon fibre extensively.

[Dadio406]

The TWR Jaguar XJS was a big heavy old beast I think the most advanced material used in it was probably aluminium . As to TWRs 'liquidation' I think Tom Walkinshaw is still heavily involved with F1 though I couldnt say with which team. There was a saying in the nineties 'If you want your car to win get Tom Walkinshaw to prepare it'..... A huge motorsport personality

[exhaust smoke]

Thank you all for your responses, they were interesting and informative to read. I think, I will probably add c/f detail inside, but 'tone it down' with some Tamiya Smoke.