Apollon Formula One Team[]
The Apollon Formula One Team, officially entered as Apollon Fly, was a short-lived and obscure Formula One constructor that made a single unsuccessful attempt to qualify for a Grand Prix during the 1977 Formula One World Championship. Founded by Swiss driver Loris Kessel, the team is best remembered for its heavily modified and underdeveloped chassis, as well as its failure to start in its only World Championship entry.
Background and Formation[]
Following the end of his stint with RAM and unsuccessful attempts to secure a full-time Formula One seat, Swiss driver Loris Kessel decided to launch his own team. With backing from a Swiss travel company named Fly, the Apollon team was formed in 1977 as a privateer outfit. The car was named Apollon Fly in reference to its main sponsor.
The team’s base of operations was split between Switzerland and Italy, with technical work carried out by former Ferrari engineer Giuseppe "Nino" Bianco. The car itself was a heavily modified version of the 1974 Williams FW03, which had been purchased second-hand and reworked to a unique design.
The Car[]
The Apollon chassis was a radical departure from its original Williams design. Key features included:
- A very long nosecone and extended wheelbase
- A high-mounted rear wing
- Unusual and unconventional bodywork
- Use of the proven Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine
- Outdated suspension and aerodynamics by 1977 standards
Despite its striking appearance, the car lacked any real development or testing, and it arrived at its debut event with minimal preparation.
1977 Italian Grand Prix[]
The Apollon team's sole Formula One entry came at the 1977 Italian Grand Prix held at Monza. With Kessel as the driver, the team hoped to qualify for the race against a competitive field. However, the entry was plagued with difficulties:
- The car arrived late to the event
- It was not fully prepared or adequately tested
- Setup issues and lack of spare parts hampered any meaningful running
Kessel was unable to post a competitive time and did not participate in official qualifying, thus failing to qualify for the race. The Apollon team withdrew following this outing and never returned to Formula One competition.