Adrian Reynard
Encyclopedia
Adrian Reynard was the founder of Reynard Motorsport
, which was a successful racing car manufacturer before it went bankrupt in 2002.
As a student, Reynard was keenly interested in motorsport, particularly in the production of record-breaking motorcycle
s. He left Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University
) and then Cranfield University without graduating at either institution - in place of the strain gauge he had been expected to present as a final-year project he turned up for his viva voce
examination in Mechanical Engineering with a brand new self-designed Formula Ford chassis (which he had to disguise as a Formula Three
as he was sponsored by a rival car manufacturer) on a trailer. At Cranfield Reynard was a classmate of Pat Symonds
. Teaming up with the experienced mechanic Bill Stone, Reynard set up Sabre Automotive which later became Reynard Motorsport
. Reynard's cars were originally built so he could go racing himself; he was successful in Formula Ford
and Formula Ford 2000 but the company he built rapidly became successful in many other formulae.
Adrian Reynard had several brushes with Formula One
early in his career—he was commissioned to design a Hawke
Formula One car for Rupert Keegan
in the mid-1970s (perhaps fortunately at that point in his career, this was not seen through—Reynard had never designed a monocoque
before), and later became Chief Engineer for RAM-March
in 1982 when the team was struggling with overweight copies of the Williams FW07
. He claims to have engineered the cars to the state they should have been in at the start of the 1981 season, but little was achieved. While Reynard was undertaking these contracts, other hands continued to run his firm.
A Reynard F1 project went sour in 1991 and took the company to the brink of bankruptcy—Reynard had to sell many of his personal assets—but the firm fought back, continuing to dominate Formula 3000 until it became a single-chassis formula at the end of the 1995 season and entering Champ Car
very successfully in 1994. Overly ambitious attempts to expand the company (and, possibly, Adrian Reynard's increasing involvement with British American Racing
) led to financial difficulties.
Oxford Brookes university made up for Reynard's lack of a degree by awarding him an honorary doctorate. Adrian Reynard maintains his links with Cranfield University where he is Visiting Professor and serves on the advisory panel for the MSc Motorsport Engineering and Management. He makes an annual award for the best motorsport thesis project at Cranfield.
He received the Queen's Awards for Export Achievement in 1990 and 1996. Currently, Reynard has signed up to join the "Founders" of Virgin Galactic, an elite group of civilians who will be among the first people to ride into space for a price.
Reynard has recently partnered with Andre Brown to relaunch Reynard racing cars with a new street legal trackday/race car.
In February 2009, he was linked with Richard Branson's Virgin group, regarding a takeover of the Honda F1 Racing team.
Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...
, which was a successful racing car manufacturer before it went bankrupt in 2002.
As a student, Reynard was keenly interested in motorsport, particularly in the production of record-breaking motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s. He left Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
) and then Cranfield University without graduating at either institution - in place of the strain gauge he had been expected to present as a final-year project he turned up for his viva voce
Viva voce
Viva voce is a Latin phrase literally meaning "with living voice," but most often translated as "by word of mouth."It may also refer to:*Italian for "live voice."*Voice vote in a deliberative assembly...
examination in Mechanical Engineering with a brand new self-designed Formula Ford chassis (which he had to disguise as a Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
as he was sponsored by a rival car manufacturer) on a trailer. At Cranfield Reynard was a classmate of Pat Symonds
Pat Symonds
Patrick Bruce Reith Symonds is the former Executive Director of Engineering of the Renault Formula One team....
. Teaming up with the experienced mechanic Bill Stone, Reynard set up Sabre Automotive which later became Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...
. Reynard's cars were originally built so he could go racing himself; he was successful in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
and Formula Ford 2000 but the company he built rapidly became successful in many other formulae.
Adrian Reynard had several brushes with Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
early in his career—he was commissioned to design a Hawke
Hawke
-People:* Albert Hawke, ex-premier of Western Australia* Alex Hawke, Australian politician* Bob Hawke, ex-prime minister of Australia* Brett Hawke, Australian Olympic swimmer* Davis Wolfgang Hawke, U.S...
Formula One car for Rupert Keegan
Rupert Keegan
Rupert Keegan is a former racing driver from England. He participated in 37 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 8 May 1977. He scored no championship points....
in the mid-1970s (perhaps fortunately at that point in his career, this was not seen through—Reynard had never designed a monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
before), and later became Chief Engineer for RAM-March
March Engineering
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...
in 1982 when the team was struggling with overweight copies of the Williams FW07
Williams FW07
The Williams FW07 was a ground effect Formula One racing car designed by Patrick Head for the 1979 F1 season. It was closely based on the Lotus 79, even being developed in the same wind tunnel at Imperial College London. Some observers, among them Lotus aerodynamicist Peter Wright felt the FW07 was...
. He claims to have engineered the cars to the state they should have been in at the start of the 1981 season, but little was achieved. While Reynard was undertaking these contracts, other hands continued to run his firm.
A Reynard F1 project went sour in 1991 and took the company to the brink of bankruptcy—Reynard had to sell many of his personal assets—but the firm fought back, continuing to dominate Formula 3000 until it became a single-chassis formula at the end of the 1995 season and entering Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
very successfully in 1994. Overly ambitious attempts to expand the company (and, possibly, Adrian Reynard's increasing involvement with British American Racing
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
) led to financial difficulties.
Oxford Brookes university made up for Reynard's lack of a degree by awarding him an honorary doctorate. Adrian Reynard maintains his links with Cranfield University where he is Visiting Professor and serves on the advisory panel for the MSc Motorsport Engineering and Management. He makes an annual award for the best motorsport thesis project at Cranfield.
He received the Queen's Awards for Export Achievement in 1990 and 1996. Currently, Reynard has signed up to join the "Founders" of Virgin Galactic, an elite group of civilians who will be among the first people to ride into space for a price.
Reynard has recently partnered with Andre Brown to relaunch Reynard racing cars with a new street legal trackday/race car.
In February 2009, he was linked with Richard Branson's Virgin group, regarding a takeover of the Honda F1 Racing team.