The Ferrari 643 is a Formula One car designed by Steve Nichols and Jean-Claude Migeot and built by Scuderia Ferrari for the 1991 season. Introduced at the French Grand Prix, it helped the team finish third in the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari 643 at a glance
| Season | 1991, from the French Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| Designers | Steve Nichols, Jean-Claude Migeot |
| Chassis | full redesign over the 642 |
| Engine | V12, upgraded six times during 1991 |
| Chassis revisions | two (after France and Belgium) |
| Debut result | second, Alain Prost |
| Constructors’ position | third in 1991 |
| Replaced by | Ferrari F92A for 1992 |
based on one source (English Wikipedia). The video below is from a racing simulation rather than period footage.
History of the Ferrari 643
The 643’s chassis was a total redesign over the 642, which suffered inconsistent handling, and was drawn up to allow softer suspension travel as Alain Prost had requested. Introduced at the French Grand Prix after development work in May, the car initially showed strong potential: Prost qualified on the front row and briefly led before being overtaken by Nigel Mansell in the Williams FW14, and a second place on debut was regarded as encouraging.
Development through the season
The V12 engine was upgraded six major times during 1991, with the final evolution used from Portugal to the end of the season. The chassis itself had two revisions, the first after the French Grand Prix, which moved the exhaust exits from underneath the car, and the second at Belgium, with minor alterations to the body cover.
Why it did not win
The 643 was not as competitive as the Williams FW14 or the McLaren MP4/6, and a big part of the problem was a lack of correct data gathering caused by the team’s turbulent management structure at the time. Its results were one of the main reasons for the falling out between Prost and Ferrari, the Frenchman eventually saying that “a truck would be easier to drive than this car”. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Prost was fired by a works team for the second time in his Formula One career. The 643 was tested in early 1992 by Ivan Capelli before being replaced at the start of that season by the Ferrari F92A.
Design and features
- Full redesign: a new chassis built around Prost’s request for softer suspension travel.
- Second on debut: Prost qualified on the front row at Paul Ricard and led briefly.
- Six engine upgrades: the V12 was revised repeatedly through 1991.
- Data problems: poor information gathering in a turbulent team held the car back.
- Prost’s verdict: the quote about a truck became the car’s epitaph.
Ferrari 643 versions
- 643 (from the French Grand Prix): the original chassis.
- 643 after France: exhaust exits moved from under the car.
- 643 after Belgium: minor body-cover changes.
The 643 replaced the Ferrari 642 and followed on from the Ferrari 641 of 1990.
Video: rFactor 2: Ferrari 643 – Alain Prost Onboard at Interlagos [Real Onboard Cam]
Video by baronesbc on YouTube.
Sources
- Ferrari 643, English Wikipedia: design, season, revisions, later use
