Benetton B187

The Benetton B187 is a Formula One racing car designed by Rory Byrne and raced by the Benetton team in the 1987 Formula One World Championship. The B187 replaced the B186 used in the 1986 season.

Benetton B187

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Benetton
Designer(s)	Rory Byrne (Chief Designer) Geoff Goddard (Cosworth Chief Race Engine Designer) Keith Duckworth (Cosworth Engine Designer)
Predecessor	B186
Successor	B188
Technical specifications[1][2]
Chassis	Carbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, pushrods
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, pushrods
Axle track	Front: 1,816 mm (71.5 in) Rear: 1,682 mm (66.2 in)
Wheelbase	2,692 mm (106.0 in)
Engine	Ford TEC, 1,497 cc (91.4 cu in), 120° V6, turbo (4.0 Bar limited), mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Benetton 6-speed manual
Weight	540 kg (1,190 lb)
Fuel	Mobil
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Benetton Formula Ltd
Notable drivers	19. Teo Fabi 20. Thierry Boutsen
Debut	1987 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last event	1987 Australian Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 16 0 2 0 1
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

Engine

In 1987 Benetton effectively became the Ford works team in F1 as they had exclusive use of the 120°, turbocharged Ford TEC V6 engine (internally the Cosworth designed and built engine was known as the GBA) for 1987, rated at approximately 900 bhp (671 kW; 912 PS).

The B187 was the last of a line of turbo cars produced by Benetton and its predecessor Toleman, dating back to when the latter debuted in F1 in 1981 with the Hart-powered TG181. For 1988, the B187 was replaced by the B188, which was powered by the 3.5 Litre, naturally aspirated Ford DFR V8 engine.

As of 2025, the TEC/GBA V6 turbo is the only turbocharged Formula One engine produced by Ford or Cosworth.

Competition and engine development history

Driven by Belgian Thierry Boutsen and Italian Teo Fabi, the team and the B187 got off to a good start with Boutsen finishing 5th at the season opening Brazilian Grand Prix, but after that the high boost the team ran in order to keep up with their competition saw the reliability of the TEC engine become suspect. However, by running less turbo boost (which hampered speed but also saw the reliability woes go down), by mid-season both Fabi and Boutsen were regularly challenging the top 4 teams of McLaren, Williams, Lotus and Ferrari for podium finishes. Boutsen led the Mexican Grand Prix (the race the team had won in 1986) for 13 laps before being forced to retire.

The 13 laps led in Mexico were the only Formula One Grand Prix laps ever led (officially over the start/finish line) by the Ford turbo engine. Boutsen had led for half a lap on lap 17 in Brazil, but as he never led over the line he was not credited with leading a lap.

Boutsen finished eighth in the Drivers' Championship with 16 points while Fabi, in his last year in F1, finished ninth with 12 points. With a total of 28 points, Benetton finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship.

Aftermath

In 1989, Jackie Stewart drove the B187 as part of a show where he drove a number of race cars, including several Formula One machines. He declared it to be one of the better cars he drove.^[3]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Pts.	WCC
1987	Benetton Formula Ltd	Ford TEC V6 tc	G		BRA	SMR	BEL	MON	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	AUT	ITA	POR	ESP	MEX	JPN	AUS	28	5th
				Teo Fabi	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	Ret	5	6	Ret	Ret	3	7	4	Ret	5	Ret	Ret
				Thierry Boutsen	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	4	4	5	14	16	Ret	5	3