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Tony Southgate
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Tony Southgate (born 25 May 1940, Coventry, England) is an English engineer and former racing car designer. He designed many successful cars, including Jaguar's Le Mans-winning XJR-9, and cars for almost every type of circuit racing. He was responsible for the chassis design of Ford's RS200 Group B rally car. Southgate was employed as chief designer or technical director for many Formula One teams for over twenty years. These teams included BRM, Shadow and Arrows. Southgate retired after producing the Audi R8C, which was a major influence in the Bentley Speed 8, which won Le Mans in 2003. He continues to be a regular visitor to current and historic race meetings.

Southgate is the only chief engineer to have won the Triple Crown of Motorsport with his cars: Indianapolis 500 with Eagle TG2 in 1968, the Monaco Grand Prix with the BRM P160B and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 and 1990 with Jaguar XJR-9 and Jaguar XJR-12.

Early career at Lola and Eagle

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Tony Southgate became interested in motorsport during his engineering apprenticeship and, like many aspiring racing designers in the late 1950s, was a member of the 750 Motor Club.[1] The 750MC was a training ground for Colin Chapman, Eric Broadley, Brian Hart and others who achieved success in motorsport. In 1962 Broadley gave Southgate his first job, as a draughtsman for Lola Cars.[2] Southgate gained a broad grounding in many areas of motorsport design while at Lola. He was involved in projects as wide-ranging as the lithe, 1.5 litre Lola Mk4A Formula One car and the 5.0 litre Lola T70[3][4] sports car. He also assisted with designs for IndyCar chassis,[5] one of which evolved into the Honda RA300 Hondola Formula One race-winner.

It was his experience with single-seater and IndyCar designs which prompted Dan Gurney to hire Southgate for his All American Racers team, based in California, to design some of the second generation of Gurney-Eagle USAC racers. The highlight of Southgate's time with AAR was when Bobby Unser won the 1968 Indianapolis 500 race in one of Southgate's Eagle cars. The Southgate-designed Eagle Formula 5000 car also found some success.[6]

Promotion with BRM

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In 1969 Tony Southgate moved back to the UK and took a job as Chief Designer for the BRM Formula One team. Southgate's first BRM car, the BRM P153,[7] appeared in time for the first race of the 1970 season in South Africa. BRM enjoyed a renaissance with the P153 and its successor the BRM P160. The P160, in particular, was highly competitive during the 1971 season; drivers Pedro Rodríguez and Jo Siffert often ran near the front of the field, only for poor reliability to let them down before the finish. Continued development work reaped vast improvements. In the latter half of the season Siffert and Peter Gethin (who had replaced Rodríguez following the latter's death) won consecutive victories in the Austrian and Italian Grands Prix. Gethin's victory at Monza was taken at an average speed of over 150 mph (240 km/h) and stood as the fastest ever Grand Prix win for over 30 years.

Although the BRM team finished second in the Constructors' Championship standings the end of the season, the achievement was marred by Siffert's death in a non-Championship race at Brands Hatch. Southgate's 1972 design, the BRM P180, was not as competitive as the previous model. Siffert's replacement Jean-Pierre Beltoise managed to win a rain-hit Monaco Grand Prix in the older P160, and with it take BRM's final Formula One victory. During the 1972 season BRM and Tony Southgate parted company. BRM finished the season in seventh place.

CanAm and Formula One with Shadow

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At the end of 1972 Shadow Racing Cars founder Don Nichols approached Southgate to design a Formula One car for his team to enter in the 1973 World Championship. Shadow had already been involved in the CanAm sportscar series for nearly two years, and with UOP sponsorship Nichols was planning an entrance into Formula One. Southgate designed and built the first Shadow Formula One prototype, the Shadow DN1, in his own garage in Lincolnshire,[8] where he had moved to be closer to the BRM factory in Bourne. However, production was soon shifted to the US, to where Southgate once again relocated.

Drivers George Follmer and Jackie Oliver were immediately competitive in the DN1. In 1974 the Southgate-designed Shadow DN4 earned first and second in the CanAm championship. In the same year Peter Revson died while testing the Shadow DN3 at Kyalami.

Tony Southgate designed the Shadow DN5 for the 1975 Formula One season. The car proved very fast, with Jean-Pierre Jarier and Tom Pryce both winning pole positions during the year, however it had poor reliability, often retiring when in a points scoring position.

Lotus

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At the end of 1975 the withdrawal of Shadow's main sponsor UOP prompted Southgate to move to Lotus, where he worked alongside Peter Wright on the Lotus 77 and Lotus 78 until the middle of 1977.

Shadow again and Arrows

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After Lotus, Southgate returned to Shadow, but left the team again at the end of 1977 together with Franco Ambrosio, Alan Rees, Jackie Oliver and Dave Wass to form Arrows.

Arrows' first car, the FA1, was almost identical to the Shadow DN9, which Southgate had designed while at Shadow. The FA1 was comfortably leading its second race, the South African Grand Prix, at the hands of Riccardo Patrese, when its engine blew, forcing it to retire. The Shadow team successfully sued Arrows for infringement of its copyrights and the Arrows FA1 was declared illegal in a UK court judgement on 31 July.[9] Southgate had anticipated this and had completed an alternative design dubbed Arrows A1 which was swiftly produced without Arrows missing a race.

Southgate also designed the Arrows A2 and A3, before leaving the team to work as a freelance engineering consultant.

Theodore and Osella

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Southgate returned to Formula 1 towards the end of 1980 to design Theodore Racing's TY01 to race in the 1981 season.

When Theodore was merged into Ensign at the end of 1982, Southgate and John Thompson founded a design consultancy named Auto Racing Technology, that worked for Ford on two major projects, including development of the Ford RS200.[10]

In 1983 Southgate designed his last Formula 1 car, the Osella FA1E. The design was severely constrained as Osella Squadra Corse did not have sufficient finances to build an entirely new chassis, forcing Southgate to adapt some parts (gearbox and rear suspension) of the Alfa Romeo 182 of previous year to fit an engine from Alfa Romeo.

Sports cars

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After the experience on Can-Am cars with Shadow, Southgate collaborated with Ford in 1982–83. with the goal to improve the C100. Helped by John Thompson, realized the MkII version that raced in last races of 1982, then realized the new Mk III, but in March 1983, Ford cancelled its activity in sports cars, after the first tests made at Paul Ricard Circuit.

After the work on Ford RS200, in 1984 Southgate moved to Tom Walkinshaw Racing, where he headed the design of the Jaguar XJR-9[11] and XJR-12. These won the World Sportscar Championship three times and the Le Mans 24 hour race twice. The XJR-9 also raced in North America in the IMSA GT Championship. It won on its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1988, and in the final race of the season at Del Mar.[12]

He remained at TWR until 1990. Southgate subsequently worked on sports cars for Toyota (Toyota TS010 1991–93),[13] Ferrari (Ferrari 333 SP 1993–95),[14] Lister, Nissan (Nissan R390 GT1 1996–97)[15] and Audi (Audi R8R and R8C).

References

[edit]
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Tony Southgate

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Tony Southgate (born 1940) is a British motorsport engineer and racing car designer from , , best known for his innovative chassis designs that secured victories across , the , and the , making him the only designer to achieve motorsport's "Triple Crown" of major race wins. Southgate's career began in 1960 when he joined as a junior draughtsman, initially earning £13 per week after leaving technical college at age 16, having developed an early interest in engineering and art amid experiences in . At Lola, he contributed to sportscars like the Mk6 and T70, as well as and projects, before moving to and then Dan Gurney's Eagle team, where he designed the successful Eagle for Formula 5000 racing and the Eagle 68 that powered to victory at the 1968 500. In 1970, Southgate became chief designer at BRM, where his P160 chassis enabled Jean-Pierre Beltoise's win at the 1972 —BRM's last victory—and Jo Siffert's win at the 1971 . He then joined Shadow in 1973, designing the competitive DN1 for and the DN2 that achieved a 1-2 finish in racing that year. Southgate's tenure at Lotus from 1976 to 1977, under , involved work on the groundbreaking ground-effect , which helped secure the 1978 , though Southgate departed before the title win. In 1977, he co-founded the Arrows team with Alan Rees, , and Dave Wass, designing the A1, A2, and A3 chassis that competed reliably in . Later freelance roles took him to teams like Theodore, , Ensign, and TWR Jaguar, where his XJR series—particularly the XJR-9—delivered Le Mans 24 Hours victories in 1988 and 1990, along with three Daytona 24 Hours wins and multiple sportscar championships. Beyond circuit racing, Southgate designed the , which claimed the 1985 , and contributed to endurance prototypes for , Ferrari, Lister, , and , including the that achieved a 1-2-3 finish at in 2000. He retired at age 60 in 2000 after his Audi stint but remained active in , racing a Sylva with the 750 Motor Club—where he had built his first car as an apprentice—and later serving as the club's president.

Early life

Apprenticeship and education

Tony Southgate was born on 25 May 1940 in , , during , a period marked by intense bombings on the city's vital industrial infrastructure. Growing up in post-war , a major hub of the British automotive sector with companies like and dominating the landscape, Southgate developed an early fascination with , influenced by the surrounding industrial revival and his own boyhood interests in both art and mechanics. He attended Technical College, leaving at age 16 without securing his desired at , though his studies there laid a foundational understanding of and basic principles. Instead, Southgate completed a five-year at a small, non-automotive firm in the area, where he honed skills in mechanical drafting, component , and precision fabrication techniques essential for . This formal training provided him with practical expertise in creating detailed technical illustrations and prototypes, bridging his academic background with hands-on application in a structured workshop environment. While self-taught elements emerged through tinkering with machinery in Coventry's automotive culture, his apprenticeship emphasized disciplined methodologies over informal experimentation. During his apprenticeship, Southgate joined the 750 Motor Club to apply his design skills to a self-built special.

Entry into motorsport via 750 Motor Club

Southgate's entry into occurred during his five-year engineering design apprenticeship, where he joined the 750 Motor Club in the late 1950s to pursue his racing ambitions and gain practical knowledge in racing car design. Founded in 1939, the club promoted the construction of affordable special-builder racing cars using the 750cc engine, attracting aspiring engineers like Southgate to experiment with innovative designs and engine modifications within strict regulations. This hands-on environment taught fundamental principles of fabrication, , and , fostering a generation of British innovators through amateur competitions. Inspired by the club's ethos, Southgate constructed his first racing car, an Special, utilizing an old Austin engine sourced affordably to meet the formula's displacement limits. Key design choices included a notably small and low-slung to optimize handling and reduce drag, constructed primarily from basic tubular steel framing in his spare time. Challenges arose from limited resources and amateur fabrication techniques, such as ensuring structural integrity without professional tools, which tested his emerging skills developed during . Southgate's early racing experiences with the Special were limited but formative, competing in three club events in the late before mechanical failure halted progress. A broken during the third outing, coupled with insufficient funds for repairs, ended his brief amateur driving career, yet these outings provided critical lessons in reliability, setup adjustments, and the iterative nature of design under race conditions. The setbacks reinforced his resolve to transition into professional racing car design, building on the practical insights gained from the 750 Motor Club's supportive community.

Early career at Lola and Eagle

Designs and roles at Lola Cars

Tony Southgate joined in 1960 as a junior draughtsman under founder , following his amateur racing experience with the 750 Motor Club that provided the foundation for his entry into professional design. At age 20, he started in a small Bromley workshop with a team of just six, earning £13 per week, where he quickly became Broadley's number-two designer, responsible for detailing sketches into full technical drawings, calculating suspension geometry, creating fabrication jigs, and even assisting in part assembly. His early contributions focused on both single-seater and sports racing projects, reflecting Lola's rapid diversification into , Formula 1, and GT categories. For and emerging F1 efforts, Southgate assisted in the development of the rear-engined Lola Mk4, a 1.5-liter designed for the V8 engine, which debuted in 1962 and secured pole position in its World Championship debut at with driving. In sports racers, he played a key role in the of 1963, a mid-engined V8 with a monocoque and fiberglass body, which Broadley and Southgate crafted as a challenger to Ferrari at and laid groundwork for Ford's GT40 program after Lola handed over the design. During this period, Southgate's work supported Lola's expansion amid the , as British constructors like Lola flooded American and European circuits with innovative, lightweight designs that emphasized affordability and quick development. The design process at Lola was hands-on and iterative, relying on Broadley's conceptual sketches translated into practical engineering without wind tunnels or advanced simulations—Southgate often fabricated components directly in the workshop to test ideas rapidly. Team dynamics fostered a close-knit, family-like atmosphere under Broadley's visionary yet pragmatic leadership, enabling a small group of young engineers to scale production from niche specials to over 100 cars annually by the mid-1960s, bolstered by successes in prototypes like the , where Southgate contributed to body styling and refinements.

Eagle collaboration and Indianapolis 500 success

In 1967, Tony Southgate joined Dan Gurney's (AAR) in , after leaving , where he had gained experience in innovative chassis design. Recommended by engineer Pete Wilkins, Southgate was tasked with developing a new to compete in the USAC Championship, replacing the earlier Len Terry-designed Eagles. His collaboration with Gurney focused on creating a competitive machine for the , leveraging Southgate's British engineering expertise to adapt to American oval racing demands. Southgate's design for the 1968 Eagle, known as the TG2 or Indy Eagle, featured a lower and flatter aluminum compared to previous models, improving and structural rigidity for high-speed . The car incorporated outboard coil springs and wishbone suspension at the front—drawing from Lola and influences—replacing the rocker-arm setup of earlier Eagles, which enhanced handling stability. Priced at $29,000 without engine, it was powered primarily by a turbocharged (Offy) four-cylinder engine for the Indy 500 entry, though variants accommodated Gurney Weslake Ford V8s or Chevrolet V8s. This design emphasized a streamlined profile to reduce drag while maintaining , marking a shift toward more efficient racers. The Eagle's innovations proved decisive at the , where five entries qualified, showcasing AAR's dominance. drove chassis 402, fitted with the Offy engine, to victory, leading the final 139 laps at an average speed of 152.882 mph and finishing 1 minute and 31 seconds ahead of second place. placed second in a Ford-powered sister car, while Denny Hulme's Eagle secured fourth after a late puncture demoted the third-place finish. This 1-2-4 result highlighted the TG2's superior straight-line speed and reliability on the 2.5-mile oval, influencing subsequent designs by prioritizing low-slung monocoques for better and aerodynamic efficiency.

Career at BRM

Joining and initial projects

Following the success of his Eagle-Weslake design at the 1968 Indianapolis 500, Tony Southgate returned to the United Kingdom and joined British Racing Motors (BRM) in June 1969 as chief designer, replacing Tony Rudd in the engineering leadership role. Under team principal Louis Stanley, Southgate was immediately tasked with heading the chassis design team alongside new chief engineer Aubrey Woods, reflecting BRM's urgent need for fresh technical direction amid a mid-season reshuffle. Southgate's initial project focused on updating the underperforming P139 chassis to salvage the remainder of the 1969 Formula One season. Collaborating with Woods, he implemented targeted modifications, including a strengthened rear structure, lowered suspension pick-up points, and repositioned fuel tanks lower within the monocoque to optimize weight distribution. These changes reduced the car's weight by approximately 150 pounds (68 kg), bringing it down to the 500 kg (1,102 lb) minimum weight limit and addressing prior handling deficiencies that had frustrated drivers like John Surtees. As part of his early contributions, Southgate initiated work on better integrating BRM's 3.0-liter (P142) into the framework, adapting it as a semi-stressed component to enhance while targeting outputs around 427 at 11,200 rpm. The BRM team environment under Stanley proved demanding, characterized by his self-styled authoritative and polarizing management approach, which often complicated collaborative efforts with specialists like engine developer Geoff Johnson and gearbox engineer Alex Stokes. Heading into 1970, these integration efforts were hampered by persistent V12 development challenges, including unreliable oil systems requiring expanded tank capacities up to 4.5 gallons (17 liters) and undersized main bearings that restricted safe power increases and overall reliability.

P153 and P160 designs

Tony Southgate's first major design for BRM was the P153, introduced for the as a radical departure from the team's previous complex "cigar-shaped" . The car featured a low-slung constructed from aluminum honeycomb, adopting a distinctive coke-bottle profile with bulbous sides that housed flexible rubber fuel tanks to maintain a low center of gravity and improve . Powered by BRM's own 3-litre producing approximately 440 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, the P153 utilized conventional outboard suspension with double wishbones at the front and reversed lower wishbones, top links, and trailing arms at the rear, paired with a five-speed BRM gearbox serving as a stressed member. Despite its innovative layout, the P153 faced debut challenges including reliability issues with the engine and gearbox during early races, though it marked BRM's return to competitiveness after a dismal 1969. The P153's racing highlight came at the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, where Pedro Rodríguez secured BRM's first victory since 1966 by outdueling Chris Amon's March in a thrilling duel, helping the team finish sixth in the constructors' championship that year. Seven P153 chassis were built, and while initial teething problems persisted—such as overheating and fuel system glitches—the car's straightforward design allowed for progressive refinements, setting the stage for its successor. Southgate's emphasis on simplicity and low center of gravity proved effective, enabling consistent top-six finishes for drivers like Rodríguez and Jackie Oliver in non-championship events and the season's latter races. Evolving directly from the P153, the P160 debuted in with aerodynamic enhancements including a lower tub, sharper , and revised bodywork to reduce drag while retaining the coke-bottle shape and rubber fuel tanks for optimal balance. Southgate refined the suspension geometry for better handling and incorporated an adjustable rear wing mounted on the gearbox for improved , with the tuned to rev higher in later iterations up to 10,800 rpm, maintaining around 440 horsepower. These changes addressed the P153's debut shortcomings, contributing to BRM's brief resurgence as the team claimed second place in the 1971 constructors' standings, bolstered by wins at the (Jo ) and the (Peter , in the closest finish in F1 history by 0.01 seconds). The P160's pinnacle achievement arrived in 1972 at the , where Jean-Pierre Beltoise delivered a masterful wet-weather drive to victory—the team's last F1 win before mounting financial difficulties eroded development resources. Eleven P160 variants were produced and raced through 1974, with inboard suspension tweaks and aerodynamic updates providing sporadic podiums, such as Beltoise's third at the 1972 , but reliability waned amid BRM's internal turmoil. Southgate's designs exemplified a focus on elegant engineering efficiency, briefly revitalizing the team despite broader organizational challenges that limited their long-term impact.

Shadow Racing Team

Can-Am program

Tony Southgate joined the Shadow Racing Team in October 1972, shortly after leaving BRM, where he had been chief designer, to lead the development of cars for both and the series. His initial contribution to Shadow's program was the DN2, a purpose-built racer that debuted in the 1973 season. Designed around a Chevrolet —initially naturally aspirated but upgraded to twin-turbocharged configuration for enhanced performance—the DN2 was engineered to cope with the series' unrestricted regulations, delivering power outputs exceeding 800 horsepower and peaking at around 1,200 horsepower with 1,000 ft-lb of torque in turbo form. The car's aluminum was constructed to be particularly sturdy and relatively heavy to withstand the immense forces, incorporating large fuel tanks with over 100-gallon capacity and a LG500 gearbox for reliability under high-stress conditions. Aerodynamically, the DN2 featured innovative elements tailored to Can-Am's high-speed demands, including a sharp "chisel" nose for improved airflow, low-mounted side water radiators to lower the center of gravity, and a stubby high tail section supporting a large rear wing for downforce. These designs were refined through wind tunnel testing at Imperial College, emphasizing weight distribution between the axles and a low overall center of gravity to enhance stability at speeds over 200 mph. The turbochargers were uniquely positioned low on the engine sides, further optimizing balance and reducing aerodynamic drag compared to traditional high-mounted setups. Driven primarily by Jackie Oliver, the DN2 showed promise in 1973 despite reliability challenges with the new turbo system, securing podium results including third place at and second at . Building on this foundation, Southgate's evolved DN4 variant dominated the 1974 Can-Am season, with Oliver clinching the championship through four victories in five races, underscoring the designs' adaptability to engines producing over 800 horsepower in a series known for its raw power and minimal restrictions.

Formula One entries with DN1 and DN3

Tony Southgate designed the Shadow DN1 as the team's inaugural Formula One car for the 1973 season, constructing the prototype in his home garage in Lincolnshire, England. The chassis featured a conventional sheet aluminum monocoque with a traditional coke-bottle shape, powered by the Cosworth DFV V8 engine acting as a stressed member and paired with a Hewland FG400 five-speed gearbox. Aerodynamic elements included a low-line nose and a large rear wing, optimized through wind tunnel testing at Imperial College London to enhance downforce while maintaining a sleek profile. The DN1 debuted at the South African Grand Prix in March 1973, driven by team leader Jackie Oliver and American George Follmer, with a customer entry for Graham Hill later in the season. Despite promising qualifying performances, the car was plagued by reliability issues, particularly vibration from the DFV engine that affected components like the gearbox and fuel system, leading to frequent retirements. The DN1 achieved two podium finishes in 1973: Follmer's third place at the , where he benefited from attrition ahead, and Oliver's third at the wet after crossing the line under power following a stall. These results helped Shadow score nine championship points, securing eighth in the constructors' standings, though the season highlighted the need for structural reinforcements to mitigate vibration. For 1974, Southgate evolved the DN1 into the Shadow DN3, retaining the core aluminum layout but introducing significant stiffening to eliminate the excessive vibration that had hampered the predecessor. The design incorporated aerodynamic refinements drawn from Southgate's prior experience, such as improved airflow management around the low-line nose and rear wing for better stability at high speeds. Powered by the same and transmission, the DN3 was assigned to new drivers and , marking Shadow's shift toward more competitive lineups. The car debuted at the in January 1974, showing improved reliability and pace early on. Jarier's DN3 secured a podium with third place at the , capitalizing on the tight street circuit's demands for precise handling, though the team struggled with consistency elsewhere due to ongoing development challenges. The season was overshadowed by tragedy when Revson was killed on March 22, 1974, during private testing at ahead of the ; the DN3 prototype suffered a front suspension failure at approximately 160 mph, causing it to crash into barriers, flip, and catch fire, destroying the car. This incident, the first fatal accident of the , prompted Shadow to continue with Jarier and later , but it underscored the risks of pushing unproven designs in testing.

Lotus period

Background to Joining Lotus

Following his departure from Shadow Racing Team amid disputes over sponsorship and team direction, Tony Southgate was recruited by chief in early 1976 to bolster the engineering team as they sought to recover from recent performance setbacks. Lotus had faced challenges with previous chassis designs, including the experimental of 1974, which was primarily designed by under Chapman's direction. The 76 featured innovations such as a rear wing for enhanced , a shallow wedge-shaped tub to reduce weight and drag, and an experimental four-pedal braking system paired with a semi-automatic clutch mechanism. conducted initial testing at circuits like , where the car showed promising straight-line speed but struggled with handling balance and mechanical reliability. Despite these advances, the encountered significant issues, including failures in its electric clutch system and poor adaptability to Goodyear's wider tires due to its setup. These contributed to disappointing results, with only sporadic points finishes in and limited use in early 1975 before Lotus reverted to updated versions of the Lotus 72.

Lotus 77 innovations

The , introduced in mid-1976, represented a significant redesign for following reliability issues with preceding models, adopting a clean-sheet approach with a slender aluminum chassis that integrated the V8 engine and FG400 gearbox as stressed members. Tony Southgate, recruited from Shadow Racing Team as chief engineer in 1976, collaborated with designer and aerodynamicist Peter Wright under Colin Chapman's direction to refine the car's handling and efficiency. Key innovations included an adjustable track and for optimized setup on varied circuits, as well as a cockpit-adjustable rear to enhance cornering balance without pit stops. Southgate's specific contributions focused on practical engineering upgrades that boosted performance, such as repositioning the oil cooler to the center of the for improved and cooling , alongside introducing a lighter compressed-air . Aerodynamically, the 77 featured compact sidepods housing radiators at the rear, later augmented with McLaren-inspired cowlings to streamline and reduce drag, while an experimental skirt drawn from internal R&D aimed to seal the underbody for better —early explorations that foreshadowed full ground-effect designs in subsequent models. Complementing these were suspension refinements by Len Terry, including rocker-arm front geometry and outboard brakes, which addressed the original setup's disruptions and improved straight-line speed. In racing, the marked Lotus's resurgence, with securing a dramatic victory at the —the car's sole win—by nursing worn tires to the finish on a fuel-saving devised by Chapman. This success, amid a fourth-place constructors' finish that year, stemmed from intense team collaboration in Lotus's high-pressure environment, where Chapman's visionary yet erratic leadership—described by Southgate as a "total " of rapid iterations and bold risks—fostered innovative problem-solving. The 77's evolutions directly informed the ground-effect and 79, enabling Andretti's 1978 drivers' championship and Lotus's constructors' title through six wins that season, underscoring the car's foundational role in the team's late-1970s dominance.

Return to Shadow and formation of Arrows

Shadow DN8 and DN9

Upon returning to the Shadow team in mid-1977 after a stint at Lotus, Tony Southgate focused on revitalizing the squad's Formula One effort amid mounting financial pressures following the withdrawal of major sponsor UOP Shadow Oil two years earlier. He quickly updated the existing DN8 chassis into a Mk3 specification, incorporating original nose-mounted oil coolers and vertical rear radiators to mitigate persistent handling problems such as understeer, twitchiness, and poor traction that had hampered the car's earlier performances. These modifications aimed to restore competitiveness, but the team's limited resources meant testing was curtailed, exacerbating reliability woes like overheating and insufficient straight-line speed. The DN8 Mk3 made its practice debut at the and raced at the , where driver Alan Jones delivered Shadow's sole victory in torrential rain on August 14, 1977, highlighting the car's potential in adverse conditions despite its overall struggles. Earlier in the season, before Southgate's arrival, the team had relied on updated DN5B chassis for the second driver , but these older designs suffered from dated aerodynamics and frequent mechanical failures, scoring minimal points. A devastating incident at the season-opening saw Pryce fatally struck by a while Zorzi's DN5B in his DN8, underscoring the team's precarious operational state. Southgate also initiated the DN9 project in late 1977, adapting ground effects principles from his Lotus tenure—specifically the sidepod-mounted radiators and venturi tunnels of the —to create a more efficient 'wing car' layout for better and stability. Lacking a six-wheeled configuration, the DN9 emphasized aerodynamic underbody flow instead, but Southgate departed for Arrows before its completion, leaving deputy John Baldwin to finalize it amid chronic underfunding that delayed work and component fabrication. The resulting car debuted in 1978 with drivers , , and , achieving occasional top-six finishes like Regazzoni's fifth at the , but retirements from engine blowouts and suspension failures plagued its campaign, reflecting Shadow's accelerating decline as sponsors wavered and key personnel exited.

Arrows A1 design and team founding

In late 1977, Tony Southgate departed from Shadow Racing Team alongside Alan Rees, , and Dave Wass to establish a new constructor, . Motivated by unfulfilled promises at Shadow and a desire for greater autonomy, the group leveraged their collective expertise to form the team in , . joined as the lead driver, bringing Italian sponsorship from Franco Ambrosio, which provided crucial initial funding to cover operations and car development. Southgate, serving as technical director, led the rapid design of Arrows' debut car, the FA1, which was completed in just 53 days and based on concepts from his unfinished Shadow DN9 project. The FA1 incorporated early ground-effect principles with inverted wing sections in the sidepods for generation, drawing from Southgate's prior exposure to Lotus' wing-car innovations. However, Shadow initiated legal action, claiming the FA1 was a direct copy of the DN9; a British court ruled in Shadow's favor in July 1978, banning the FA1 after it had competed in five Grands Prix, where Patrese achieved a second place in and led briefly in before retiring. Anticipating the ruling, Southgate and Wass hastily redesigned the car into the Arrows A1, modifying approximately 60% of the structure—including altered sidepod shapes and dimensions—to comply with the court's while retaining core ground-effect sealed by sliding skirts for improved efficiency. Built in 52 days, the A1 debuted at the with Patrese at the wheel, qualifying 18th and finishing 12th after a issue, allowing Arrows to avoid missing any races. This resilient effort marked the team's survival in its formative season, with the A1 going on to contest the remaining 1978 events and securing points finishes, such as Patrese's sixth place in .

Later Formula One projects

Arrows A2 and A3

The Arrows A2, co-designed by Tony Southgate and Dave Wass, marked the team's pivot to a new following the FIA's ban on the innovative but controversial A1 ground effects car. Debuting at the 1979 , the A2 adopted a second-generation ground effect approach with a full-width underbody venturi tunnel, an angled engine and gearbox to enhance airflow, and minimal conventional wings—relying instead on the car's body as an integrated aerodynamic device. This design aimed to generate without the overt wing structures that defined rivals like the , though it suffered from porpoising and driver discomfort due to reclined seating. Driven primarily by and , the A2 demonstrated potential in qualifying sessions, with Patrese securing competitive grid positions such as 13th at the , reflecting the car's balanced handling on certain circuits. However, reliability woes, including gearbox failures and inconsistent aerodynamics, restricted race results to two sixth-place finishes—for Patrese at the Italian and Canadian Grands Prix—positioning Arrows in consistent midfield battles against teams like Ensign and Tyrrell amid limited development resources. For 1980, Southgate and Wass refined the concept into the Arrows A3, a more orthodox design emphasizing narrow width, compactness, and improved balance to address the A2's instabilities while prioritizing reliability through simplified ground effects and robust construction. The A3 retained the powerplant but featured minor aerodynamic tweaks, such as refined sidepod venting and suspension , enabling better consistency over race distances without the experimental extremes of its predecessor. The proved more competitive from the outset, with Patrese claiming second place at the Long Beach Grand Prix and achieving the same at the , highlighting the team's growing midfield prowess against established squads like Williams and . Continued use into 1981, including Patrese's at Long Beach, underscored its reliability gains, though tire compatibility issues with later hampered progress; overall, it solidified Arrows as a resilient mid-pack contender during Southgate's tenure before his departure in September 1980.

Theodore TY01 and TY02

In 1981, Tony Southgate was commissioned by Hong Kong-based team owner Teddy Yip to design a new for the Theodore Racing team, resulting in the TY01 . This effort was heavily influenced by Southgate's recent experience at Arrows, incorporating a similar layout to the Arrows with an aluminum tub and powered by the reliable but aging Ford . The TY01 debuted at the West in Long Beach, where qualified 17th and finished 6th. Theodore's status as an underfunded entrant led to significant struggles, including inconsistent reliability and limited testing resources compared to teams. Tambay drove the car for the first half of the , scoring no points before moving to ; he was replaced by from the onward, who managed a few midfield finishes, such as eighth at the , while Geoff Lees substituted later and achieved a career-best eighth at the . Overall, the TY01 qualified for 11 of 15 races but retired frequently due to mechanical issues and accidents, highlighting the challenges of competing with a small operation against the turbocharged frontrunners. For 1982, Southgate refined the concept into the TY02, a more conventional evolution with an aluminum honeycomb , updated including revised sidepods, and retention of the engine to maintain cost efficiency amid the rising dominance of turbo engines. opened the season in the updated TY01 before switching to the new TY02 from the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he qualified 20th but retired early. The car saw multiple drivers amid injuries and lineup changes: took over mid-season but crashed out at , Geoff Lees drove once at the Canadian Grand Prix (qualifying 24th and retiring), and Tommy Byrne handled the latter races, qualifying as high as 15th at the . Despite incremental improvements like a carbon fiber rear and pullrod front suspension borrowed from influences, the TY02's privateer limitations persisted, qualifying only eight times across the 1982 season and failing to finish any race, often due to handling issues and failures. These efforts underscored Theodore's battle for survival in an increasingly expensive landscape, with the team ultimately merging with Ensign at season's end.

Osella FA1E

In 1983, Tony Southgate designed the FA1E, his final major project, for the Italian team amid the transition to turbocharged engines. The FA1E was an evolution of prior models, featuring an aluminum adapted for the V8 (with some turbo experiments), prioritizing reliability and handling improvements under budget constraints. Two definitive were fabricated in by Southgate before assembly in . Driven by Piercarlo Ghinzani and Corrado Fabi, the FA1E struggled in qualification against factory turbo teams but showed midfield potential. Ghinzani's best result was 7th at the , while Fabi achieved 10th at the same event. The car qualified for most races but suffered from reliability issues like engine failures, finishing the season with no points as placed last in the constructors' standings. This project marked Southgate's shift toward sports car and consultancy work, leaving Osella to develop the 1984 FA1F internally.

Sports car racing career

Jaguar XJR series and Le Mans victories

In 1985, Tony Southgate joined Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) to lead the design efforts for Jaguar's entry into the IMSA GTP and FIA Group C sports car racing programs, marking Jaguar's return to international endurance racing after a hiatus. Southgate's role involved creating a new generation of prototypes based on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, drawing on his Formula 1 experience to integrate Jaguar's 6.0-liter V12 engine, which was later enlarged to 7.0 liters for enhanced power output exceeding 700 horsepower. The resulting XJR series emphasized reliable engine packaging and aerodynamic efficiency, with the V12 positioned low and rearward to optimize weight distribution and cooling under prolonged high-speed conditions. The XJR-9, unveiled in , represented the pinnacle of Southgate's contributions to the series, featuring advanced aerodynamics including underfloor venturi tunnels inspired by Formula 1 ground-effect principles to generate substantial without excessive drag. This design enabled the XJR-9 to secure Jaguar's first 24 Hours victory since 1957, with the winning car driven by , Johnny Dumfries, and Andy Wallace completing 39 laps ahead of the second-place finisher after 24 hours of racing. The XJR-9's success extended to the , where clinched the teams' title in 1988 with six victories across the season, demonstrating the car's superior reliability and straight-line speed on circuits like Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka. Building on this foundation, Southgate refined the XJR-12 for the 1990 season as an of the XJR-9, with subtle aerodynamic tweaks to the bodywork and rear diffuser for improved high-speed stability while retaining the potent V12 powertrain. At the 1990 24 Hours, the XJR-12 achieved another outright victory, driven by , John Nielsen, and Price Cobb, covering 4,882 kilometers at an average speed of over 200 km/h and marking Jaguar's second Group C-era triumph at the event.

Other prototypes including Toyota TS010 and Ferrari 333 SP

In 1991, Southgate led the design of the Toyota TS010, a purpose-built prototype for the revised Group C regulations emphasizing closed-cockpit sports cars with naturally aspirated engines. Commissioned by Toyota and developed through Tom Walkinshaw Racing, the TS010 featured a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and an elongated, aerodynamic body optimized for high-speed stability at Le Mans, powered by a 3.5-liter RV10 V10 engine delivering approximately 600 hp in endurance configuration and revving to 11,000 rpm. The car debuted at the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours, where reliability issues limited its performance, but in 1992 it achieved a near-victory, leading for much of the race before an electrical failure dropped the leading entry to third place overall, marking Toyota's strongest result in Group C before the category's end. Southgate's expertise extended to the , a closed-cockpit introduced in 1994 for GTP and later WSC competitions, where he served as a design consultant to Automobili. The 333 SP utilized a carbon-fiber and with a 4.0-liter Tipo F125C producing around 680 hp, incorporating advanced ground effects and adjustable for endurance racing; Southgate's input refined the chassis layout and engine integration, contributing to 34 overall victories, including multiple class wins at from 1998 to 2001, before its retirement in 2003. For Nissan's 1997 Le Mans effort under GT1 rules, Southgate headed the mechanical and aerodynamic design of the R390 GT1 through TWR, blending aesthetics with prototype performance via a and 3.5-liter VRH35L outputting over 700 hp. The car's low-drag bodywork, featuring a for stability, secured second place at the 1997 and third in 1998, highlighting adaptations like for high-speed circuits despite the GT1 class's emphasis on production-derived elements. In 1999, Southgate consulted on Audi's R8C, a one-off Le Mans Grand Tourisme Prototype developed by Sport UK with designer Peter Elleray, featuring a pushrod suspension and carbon-aluminum composite for the twin-turbo 3.6-liter R8F rated at 600 hp. Optimized for the with a focus on reliability and low fuel consumption under LMGTP rules, the R8C qualified third but both entries retired during the race (#8 early due to gearbox failure, #10 later due to electrical issues), providing valuable data that paved the way for 's dominant R8 series in subsequent years.

Later years and legacy

Consultancy work and retirement

Following the completion of his work on the Audi R8C prototype in 1999, Tony Southgate transitioned from full-time design roles to freelance consultancy, focusing on historic projects. He provided technical advice to teams restoring classic vehicles and developing replicas of his earlier designs, drawing on his extensive experience in and engineering. Southgate's consultancy extended to specific efforts, such as assisting with customer versions of the sports racer and supporting Laurence Pearce's program around 2003. He also served as a and scrutineer for the Historic series, ensuring the authenticity and compliance of vintage cars in competitive events. These roles allowed him to remain connected to while scaling back his involvement. By 2003, Southgate fully retired from professional design and consultancy, operating his own independent design firm on a limited basis thereafter. He also served as president of the 750 Motor Club, where he had built his first car as an apprentice. In retirement, he adopted a low profile, pursuing personal interests such as attending historic race meetings like the , where he has made occasional appearances as recently as 2024.

Autobiography and notable achievements

In 2010, Tony Southgate published his autobiography, From Drawing Board to Chequered Flag: The Autobiography of One of Motorsport's Most Prolific and Versatile Racing Car Designers, which details his 38-year career spanning , , and , offering insights into major projects like the Shadow DN1 and XJR series alongside personal reflections on the industry's challenges and triumphs. The book emphasizes his hands-on role in designing vehicles that achieved global success, including the legal battles over that shaped his later independence. Southgate's most notable achievement is being the only chief designer whose cars have claimed the : the in 1968 with the Eagle 68 driven by ; the in 1972 with the driven by Jean-Pierre Beltoise; and the in 1988 with the , followed by a repeat victory in 1990 with the XJR-12. These wins underscore his versatility across open-wheel and endurance racing disciplines. Throughout his career, Southgate was solely responsible for the design of nearly 50 and contributed to another 25, many of which secured victories in international competitions, establishing him as one of motorsport's most influential engineers. In the and , his legacy has been honored through interviews, including a 2011 discussion at International on his projects and a 2023 retrospective on his Indy 500 success and time at Lotus. His retirement in the early provided the space for such reflections, culminating in the .

References

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