CTA-Arsenal
Encyclopedia
The CTA-Arsenal is a French
racing car which was developed by the Centre for the study of car and cycle technology (then abbreviated as CTA but today renamed as the UTAC
and constructed by Arsenal
at Châtillon
. Two cars were eventually built. The car was intended as the French “national single seat racing car” to compete against Alfa Romeo
but the project was abandoned because the car proved incapable of finishing the races in which it was scheduled to appear.
, who had won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1932
and 1933
, informed the engineers at the CTA about his project to construct a racing car that could represent France in motor races. He persuaded Marcel Paul
, the industry minister, to release government funds in order that the CTA might work on the project.
Albert Lory, who had built his reputation with Delage
in the 1920s, was placed in charge of the project team, but he only took responsibility for the engine, being highly critical of the chassis and suspension design which he, along with independent commentators, regarded as the car’s weak spot.
In 1947 the car was entered for the French Grand Prix
, and the race, run that year at Lyon, was postponed till 21 September to enable it to compete. Unfortunately the transmission broke on the start line, however, and the record shows that it was placed last after completing zero laps. Nevertheless, the next year the CTA-Arsenal returned to the fray, now with two cars built. It was scheduled to feature in the French Grand Prix
, now running at Rheims
in July 1948, but had to withdraw at the last minute. The race was won by an Alfa Romeo.
The car made its second and final race appearance in 1949 before the project was abandoned and the project team leader, Albert Lory, joined Renault
as the director responsible for research.
The chassis employed independent suspension with longitudinal torsion bars at the front and lateral torsion bars at the rear, with wheels mounted on “silent blocks” that permitted vertical movement. The road holding provided by this combination was reported to be catastrophic. Stopping power came from hydraulically controlled drum brakes and the car sat on Rudge-Whitworth spoked wheels.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
racing car which was developed by the Centre for the study of car and cycle technology (then abbreviated as CTA but today renamed as the UTAC
UTAC
United Test and Assembly Center Ltd is one of the largest providers of test and assembly services for a wide range of semiconductor devices, including memory, mixed-signal/RF and logic integrated circuits...
and constructed by Arsenal
Arsenal de l'Aéronautique
Arsenal de l'Aéronautique was a national military aircraft manufacturer established by the French Government in 1936 at Villacoublay. In the years before World War II, it developed a range of technically advanced fighter aircraft, but none of these were manufactured in sufficient quantities to be...
at Châtillon
Châtillon, Hauts-de-Seine
Châtillon is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.The town was formerly named Châtillon-sous-Bagneux, and a relic of this denomination remains in at least one road sign in Vanves Châtillon is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of...
. Two cars were eventually built. The car was intended as the French “national single seat racing car” to compete against Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
but the project was abandoned because the car proved incapable of finishing the races in which it was scheduled to appear.
Origins
In 1945 Raymond SommerRaymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....
, who had won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1932
1932 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1932 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 10th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 18 and 19 1932.This race saw the shortening of the circuit to nearly 13.5 km following the creation of a new permanent race track between the pit stretch and Mulsanne, creating the famed Dunlop Curve,...
and 1933
1933 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1933 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 11th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 17 and 18 1933.The margin of victory for this race was estimated at being 9.5 seconds difference, or approximately 400 meters in terms of overall distance....
, informed the engineers at the CTA about his project to construct a racing car that could represent France in motor races. He persuaded Marcel Paul
Marcel Paul
Marcel Paul was a French trade unionist and communist politician. He was also a Nazi concentration camp survivor and later served as a member of the French parliament.- Biography :...
, the industry minister, to release government funds in order that the CTA might work on the project.
Albert Lory, who had built his reputation with Delage
Delage
Delage was a French luxury automobile and racecar company founded in 1905 by Louis Delage in Levallois-Perret near Paris; it was acquired by Delahaye in 1935 and ceased operation in 1953.-History:...
in the 1920s, was placed in charge of the project team, but he only took responsibility for the engine, being highly critical of the chassis and suspension design which he, along with independent commentators, regarded as the car’s weak spot.
In 1947 the car was entered for the French Grand Prix
1947 French Grand Prix
The 1947 French Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Lyon-Parilly on September 21, 1947.- Classification :-References:*http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/archive/f1/nc/1947/1947.html#acf...
, and the race, run that year at Lyon, was postponed till 21 September to enable it to compete. Unfortunately the transmission broke on the start line, however, and the record shows that it was placed last after completing zero laps. Nevertheless, the next year the CTA-Arsenal returned to the fray, now with two cars built. It was scheduled to feature in the French Grand Prix
1948 French Grand Prix
The 1948 French Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race, held at Reims on 18 July 1948. The race was won by Jean-Pierre Wimille, driving an Alfa Romeo 158.-Classification:-References:* http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/archive/f1/nc/1948/1948.html#acf...
, now running at Rheims
Reims-Gueux
Reims-Gueux was a triangular motor racing road course near Reims, France, which hosted 14 French Grands Prix.Reims-Gueux was first established in 1926 on the public roads between the small French villages of Thillois and Gueux. The circuit had two very long straights between the towns, and teams...
in July 1948, but had to withdraw at the last minute. The race was won by an Alfa Romeo.
The car made its second and final race appearance in 1949 before the project was abandoned and the project team leader, Albert Lory, joined Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
as the director responsible for research.
Technical
Lory designed a high performance 1 482 cm³ V8 engine incorporating four overhead camshafts and two Roots compressors. This unit initially provided 215 hp at 6,000 rpm. By 1948 the engine had been modified to produce a maximum of 275 hp at 8,000 rpm. However, it was matched to a transmission system that one commentator described as "delicate".The chassis employed independent suspension with longitudinal torsion bars at the front and lateral torsion bars at the rear, with wheels mounted on “silent blocks” that permitted vertical movement. The road holding provided by this combination was reported to be catastrophic. Stopping power came from hydraulically controlled drum brakes and the car sat on Rudge-Whitworth spoked wheels.