This vehicle is one of three fresh iterations of the Arrows A1 produced in the latter stages of 1978 as replacements for the Arrows FA1s, which were returned to the Shadow team due to a copyright dispute. Originally driven by Riccardo Patrese in the 1978 World Championship, it saw a brief action in 1979 before being acquired by Charles Clowes’ team for use in the Aurora AFX British F1 Championship. In 1980, driver Leon Walger damaged it at Thruxton, effectively ending its competitive career. The Arrows A1B later served as a display piece for Rizla before entering historic racing in 2022.
Riccardo Patrese’s racing career is a remarkable journey through various top tiers of motorsport, showcasing versatility and endurance as a driver. Starting in karting, Patrese won the world title in 1974, and transitioned to racing cars in 1975, quickly demonstrating his skills by finishing as the runner-up in the Formula Italia series. The following year, he achieved a significant milestone by winning both the Italian and European Formula 3 championships, underscoring his potential in single-seater racing.
In 1977, Patrese moved up to Formula 2 with the Trivellato team, where he made a mark with several second-place finishes and pole positions. His talent and performance caught the attention of the Shadow Formula 1 team, with which he made his mid-season debut.
The following year, Patrese joined the newly formed Arrows team, created by former Shadow personnel. Despite initial challenges and legal disputes over their car design, the team managed to develop competitive cars like the Arrows A1. Patrese remained with Arrows for four seasons, contributing significantly to the team’s efforts and gaining valuable experience in the top tier of motorsport.
