Ahead of the 1962 season, wealthy American teenager Hugh Powell bought a controlling stake in the British Formula One constructor Emeryson Cars. His objective apparently was to secure a F1 ride for his guardian Tony Settember, who had previously campaigned sports cars in North America. After a disappointing season with the existing Emeryson chassis, Settember persuaded Powell to fund the construction of a brand new car; one that he could actually fit in properly. At that time, most of the Emeryson staff, including Paul Emery himself, had left.
With the help of Hugh Aiden-Jones and John Tojeiro, the new-for-1963 Formula One car was designed by Settember, who was also a trained engineer. Dubbed the Scirocco, it was built around a steel tubular spaceframe. The fuel tanks were welded in to further increase the chassis' rigidity. Conventional in its configuration, the front and rear suspension were designed by Tojeiro. The Scirocco was designed to take the competitive BRM V8 engine, which was originally mated to a GSD 5-speed gearbox. A Colotti, six-speed was also used later in its career. The fiberglass body was constructed for the small team by Williams & Pritchard.
Two cars were built, the first one specifically for Settember while the second, with a slimmer frame, was readied for Ian Burgess. Although finished in the American racing colors of white and blue, the two cars were entered by the Scirocco-Powell team under the British flag. Settember competed in five rounds, finishing eighth at his debut with the car in the Belgian Grand Prix. It would be his only finish of the season. The second chassis was entered only in the British and German Grands Prix but Burgess failed to finish on both outings.
Disillusioned by the lack of success and running low on money, Powell and Settember returned to the United States before the end of the year. Burgess' car was prepared by Tim Parnell for Teddy Pilette to race in the 1964 World Championship under the Equipe Scirocco Belge. Powered by a Coventry Climax V8 and re-painted yellow, the car again failed to impress. After just two outings, the car was retired from contemporary racing.
Article originally on UltimateCarPage.com
