Arrows-Ford A6

We will see these F1 gems at the GP Revival 2024 in Brno: Arrows-Ford A6

Text and photo: Roman Klemm

A relatively simple Mk A6 with a traditional 8-cylinder Cosworth was designed for the 1983 season by Dave Wass, one of the founders of Arrows ("W"). After the 1982 season (and after the departure of the benefactor Ragno), there was a lack of money for the revolutionary experiments à la "golden cigar A2" of the team led by Jackie Oliver and Alan Rees. After the banning of wing-cars, the car was the logical successor of its predecessors A4 and A5 in terms of technical concept, and it only had short side boxes.
At that time, Oliver hoped for a long time that through the comeback of ex-champion Alan Jones he would attract new patent sponsors to Arrows, but the Australian's return to the cockpit lasted only two races in 1983. Former F2 champion Marc Surer became a reliable regular in the team, who not only drove the Arrows sensationally for points three times during the first four events (best as 5th in Long Beach). The Swiss later also brokered subsidies from the Barclays cigarette brand and a year later even BMW engines. Chico Serra and Formula 1 debutant Thierry Boutsen shared the second car alongside Jones. The livery of the Arrows A6 changed from race to race depending on who the drivers got support from.
Surer and Boutsen appeared in Monza in September in the livery of the Italian wind candy manufacturer Golia. The Swiss finished 10th (for which points were not awarded at the time), the Belgian's engine failed.
In Barclays livery, the Arrows A6 served the team for the first half of the 1984 season, before being replaced by the A7 model with a BMW turbocharged engine. Boutsen with the A6 managed to finish twice more for points (best 5th in Imola).
Arthur Bruckner from Salzburg decided to resurrect the unusual and impressive paintwork of the sponsor Golia. The Austrian deploys his gem with the support of a mini-team consisting of his lovely wife and son.