Apollon (Formula One)

Apollon was a Formula One racing car constructor from Switzerland. The team participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix but failed to qualify. The team was formed by Loris Kessel, who also drove for the team.

After Loris Kessel had left John Macdonald's RAM team, he approached Frank Williams for a drive at his team. Williams had no place left for Kessel, but could sell him an old car, the FW03. Kessel agreed and approached Jolly Club, previously successful in touring cars and rallying. Kessel also hired ex-Ferrari designer Giacomo Caliri, updating the FW03 to become a car with a striking long nose and radiators placed directly in front of the front wheel suspension. The car was renamed the Apollon Fly, named after the sponsor of the project.

Due to transport issues, the Apollon team would not arrive to a Formula One paddock until the Italian Grand Prix late in the season.

At Monza the Apollon finally appeared. The outdated car was slow and was over 8 seconds off the pole time of James Hunt. The car would never race again and the Apollon team was disbanded soon after.

(key)