However, making a strong entry into the sport, it did certainly manage to capture a bit of F1 history with some unique features and a few racing moments of great promise.
Background
1987 was going to be the fifth season for Zakspeed in Formula 1. The team was well known for their commitment and innovative ideas, but those were not enough to raise them through the ranks of top teams. The 871 was made to carry the hope of better results for the team after a dismal beginning in the 1980s.
Engine: Powering the 871
Powering the Zakspeed 871 was the company’s own 1.5-litre, 1500/4 straight-4 turbocharged engine, producing around 820 bhp (611 kW). The engine basically propelled the team’s desires relative to this becoming part of it continuing to rely on its own technology to compete at the sport’s highest level, but then so much power produced the engine’s reliability issues, and the car was rarely able to match the established teams.
Sponsorship: A Vital Partnership
For the Zakspeed team, the only title sponsor during the 1987 season was West tobacco company. Without this, the team would no doubt have been in dire straits financially, but even that was not enough to convert active resources to success on the track.
Driver Line-up: Brundle and Danner
Significantly new for the 1987 season will be the Zakspeed driver line-up. Martin Brundle has moved to the team as the lead driver, virtually in a drivers’ swap with Jonathan Palmer, who goes to Tyrrell after two years with Zakspeed. Palmer came from three years at Tyrrell. In addition to Brundle, he had Christian Danner, the 1986 Formula 3000 champion, who made a move from Arrows. To both, adding to the years of experience, the car has always been unable to afford them the proper British impact.
Racing History: A Glimmer of Hope
Even the San Marino Grand Prix – debut for the Zakspeed 871 – was preceded by having the 861 run for Brazil. Once in San Marino, Brundle would qualify 15th, score 2 points due to placing 5th in the race. This would be the only points score in F1 for the team and as such a short but significant one in their history.
It has to be added, however, that the 871’s charms did not lie in its reliability and could not be pitched consistently against the better-established teams. The true potential of the car was never realized; thus Zakspeed was never truly in the running for the tops.
Legacy and Conclusion
Moving Forward, But Not Enough After this season, the Zakspeed 871 was replaced with the Zakspeed 881, which was the last turbocharged car by Zakspeed for a long time because the era for turbo engines in Formula 1 has ended. This marks progress for the team; indeed, it is a huge step but the 871 cannot be said to have lived up to expectations set for it by Zakspeed.
The Zakspeed 871 is part of Formula 1 history as a car that briefly showed much promise, but never had the ability to compete regularly. The insistent dedication of the team to develop its own technology along with the talent of the drivers Martin Brundle and Christian Danner could not overcome the hurdles faced by the 871. Nonetheless, the Zakspeed 871 remained as a little symbol of tenacity for truly small teams in one of the most highly competitive motorsport environments in the world.
