Scarab was an American Formula One team and constructor that participated in Grand Prix racing in the 1960s. Founded by Tommy Atkins and Lance Reventlow, the team is notable for being one of the first American attempts at building and running a Formula One Team.
History[]
Formation and Early Years[]
The Scarab project began in 1957 in California, spearheaded by Lance Reventlow, heir to the Woolworth fortune, and Tommy Atkins, a talented engineer. Initially, Scarab focused on sports car racing, building competitive cars that competed primarily in the United States, including the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) series.
By the early 1960s, Scarab had achieved considerable success in North American sports car racing, including victories in prestigious events such as the SCCA National Championship. This success inspired Reventlow to pursue a bold entry into Formula One, aiming to challenge established European teams with a homegrown American car.
Formula One[]
In 1960, Scarab decided to enter Formula One, designing the Scarab F1 car, sometimes referred to as the Scarab Mk1. The car was built around a front-engine layout, which was already becoming obsolete compared to the mid-engine designs pioneered by Cooper and Lotus. Scarab was powered by a Connaught-derived engine, adapted to meet Formula One regulations of the era.
The car made its Grand Prix debut at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, driven by Chuck Daigh, an American driver with experience in European racing, and Richie Ginther. Despite promising engineering and a strong sports car pedigree, the Scarab F1 car struggled with competitiveness, primarily due to its front-engine configuration and lack of experience in European circuits.
Scarab also participated in other events during the 1960 season, including the Dutch Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix, but the team failed to score championship points. Reliability issues and limited technical resources further hampered its performance.
After the 1960 season, Scarab abandoned Formula One to focus on sports car racing and other engineering projects. The team is remembered for:
- Being one of the first serious American attempts at competing in Formula One.
- Demonstrating the gap between American front-engine designs and the mid-engine European revolution.
- Building highly regarded sports cars that were competitive in North America.
- Launching the careers of American drivers such as Chuck Daigh and promoting American involvement in international racing.
Scarab cars are today highly prized by collectors, with several restored examples appearing in historic racing events, including Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Monterey Historic Races.