Pre-war Aston Martin returned to the track with Sebastian Vettel at the wheel as part of the 100th anniversary of Aston’s first-ever Grand Prix entry
Aston Martin marked 100 years since its first-ever Grand Prix entry with an evocative display on July 21 at the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard. Its iconic racer – TT1, known affectionately as ‘Green Pea’ – was put through its paces with current Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team driver Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel. The celebrations commemorated the car’s entry at the 1922 French Grand Prix at Strasbourg; a 60-lap, 800km race that was the first to feature a mass start.
Two Aston Martin cars took part – TT1 and TT2. Aston Martin founder Lionel Martin built the cars for racing driver Count Louis Zborowski; each featured an all-new twin-overhead-cam, 16-valve, 1,486cc four-cylinder engine. The cars weren’t completed in time to compete at the Isle of Man TT as originally intended but made their debut on 15 July 1922 at the French Grand Prix with Zborowski at the wheel of TT1.
Sadly, both TT1 and TT2 retired from the 1922 race with engine trouble – a fate that was common in racing at the time. In fact, just four of the 19 entrants finished the race, and one driver – Biagio Nazzaro – was killed when his Fiat 804 lost a wheel and hit a tree.
Racing cars were far less safe yet decidedly slower in 1922 than today’s hybrid halo-fitted efforts; TT1’s 1,486cc engine produces 55bhp at 4,200rpm and utilises a hand-pressurised fuel tank – the job of a ride-along mechanic in the car’s second seat. The car itself weighs 750kg – 45kg lighter than today’s Aston Martin AMR22 F1 car – and top speed was 85mph.
“Green Pea holds a very special place in Aston Martin’s heritage, and you can almost feel that century of history beneath your fingertips when at the wheel,” said Vettel following his drive in TT1. “The racing spirit and will to win is something that defines Aston Martin, and it’s fantastic to celebrate it this weekend as we bring Green Pea and our heritage in motorsport together with the cutting-edge technology and performance of today’s AMR22 car.”
At time of writing, the modern incarnation of Aston Martin’s Grand Prix team sits second-last in the constructors standings, with its drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll in 14th and 18th place respectively in the driver’s championship.
