Tony Quinn to Drive Historic 1995 Simtek F1 Car at Adelaide Festival

Australian motorsport magnate Tony Quinn will take the wheel of a historic 1995 Simtek S951 Formula 1 car at the upcoming Adelaide Motorsport Festival. The event highlights Quinn's dual role as a key circuit owner and collector, bringing a piece of F1's poignant history to life for fans.

Why it matters:

Quinn's demonstration connects modern Australian motorsport influence with F1's rich past. Driving a car from the short-lived Simtek team—notable for its association with Jos Verstappen and the tragic loss of Roland Ratzenberger—adds a layer of historical significance beyond a simple exhibition run. It showcases how private collectors and event organizers are crucial in preserving and sharing the sport's heritage.

The details:

• The car is the Simtek S951, the team's final F1 chassis which competed in only the first five rounds of the 1995 season before the squad collapsed.
• It was driven by Italian Domenico Schiattarella and Jos Verstappen, father of current reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
• The team, which also fielded Australian David Brabham (son of champion Jack) in 1994, never scored a championship point, as points were only awarded to the top six finishers at the time.
• Quinn is a major figure in Australasian motorsport, owning circuits like Queensland Raceway and Highlands Motorsport Park in New Zealand, and holding a significant stake in the powerhouse Supercars team, Triple Eight Race Engineering.
• The S951 is part of Quinn's extensive collection and will also be displayed in the event's grand marquee.

What's next:

The car will be driven on track during the festival, which runs from February 28 to March 1. This demonstration is part of a wider trend of historic F1 cars being activated at events, offering fans a tangible link to different eras of the sport's technical and human history.