The Cooper T80 was a

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship ...

racing car designed for the stillborn

Climax Climax may refer to: Language arts * Climax (narrative), the point of highest tension in a narrative work * Climax (rhetoric), a figure of speech that lists items in order of importance Biology * Climax community, a biological community th ...

FWMW 1.5 litre flat-16 engine. It was later converted to take a

Maserati Maserati S.p.A. () is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. Established on 1 December 1914, in Bologna, Italy, the company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. The company has been owned by Stellantis since 2021. ...

V12 as a test mule pending the arrival of the

Cooper T81 The Cooper T81 is a Formula One car produced by the Cooper Car Company for the 1966 Formula One season. It represented something of a comeback for Cooper's fortunes, winning two races and enabling Cooper to finish third in the Constructors' Cha ...

chassis.

Development history

Cooper had prepared a chassis, designated T80, to take the

FWMW flat-16 1.5 litre engine for 1965 but the engine had suffered development problems and more importantly was no more powerful than the existing FWMV V8. Cooper then repurposed the chassis as a development mule for the

Tipo 9 2.5-litre V12, enlarged to 3 litres. The Maserati engine would be used in Cooper's first purpose-built 3 litre Formula One car, the T81.

Race history

The T80 contested only a single race, the non-championship

1966 BRDC International Trophy The 18th BRDC International Trophy was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 14 May 1966 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. The race was run over 35 laps of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, and was won by Australian Jack Brabham ...

Jo Siffert Joseph Siffert (; 7 July 1936 – 24 October 1971) was a Swiss racing driver. Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner. He initially made his name in racing ...

's T81 suffered engine failure during practice and he drove the T80 in the race, retiring after 12 laps with clutch trouble.

References

Cooper Formula One cars 1966 Formula One season cars {{F1-stub