.jpg) Karl Wendlinger driving the C12 atSilverstone. | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Sauber | ||||||||
| Designers | Harvey Postlethwaite (Technical Director) Leo Ress (Chief Designer) Mike Gascoyne (Head of Aerodynamics) Mario Illien (Chief Engine Designer, Ilmor) | ||||||||
| Successor | Sauber C13 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibremonocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, pushrod | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, pushrod | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,690 mm (67 in) Rear: 1,610 mm (63 in) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,930 mm (115 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Ilmor 2175A, 3,496 cc (213.3 cu in), 75°V10,NA,mid-engine,longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Sauber /XTrac T 6-speedsemi-automatic | ||||||||
| Weight | 505 kg (1,113 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||||||
| Lubricants | Liqui Moly | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Team Sauber Formula 1 | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 29. Karl Wendlinger30.  JJ Lehto | ||||||||
| Debut | 1993 South African Grand Prix | ||||||||
| Last event | 1993 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
TheSauber C12 was the car with which theSauberFormula One team made itsFIAFormula One World Championship debut in1993. Its design was led by Leo Ress.
Power was provided by a Sauber-branded 3.5-litre V10 built byIlmor in partnership withMercedes. The C12 was given the prominence of "Concept by Mercedes-Benz" stickers on the engine cowling due to the two parties' close relationship from theirWorld Sportscar Championship program. The engines were re-branded in 1994 to reflect the partnership.[2][3]
Karl Wendlinger was re-united with his formerWSC team in preparation for its Grand Prix debut. He already had two seasons of Formula One experience, having made his debut in the1991 Japanese Grand Prix withLeyton House, whileJJ Lehto (Jyrki Järvilehto) had started 38 Grands Prix (not including failures to qualify) between1989 and1992.
Lehto contributed to a promising start with a 5th-place finish in theSouth African GP atKyalami and improved on that with a 4th place classification atImola, home of theSan Marino GP, despite an engine problem.[4]
The C12 had a somewhat mixed record with a total of 12 DNFs due to mechanical failure, including seven engine failures (not including Imola, where Lehto was classified as a finisher). Driver-related incidents accounted for six more DNFs.
The C12 achieved six points finishes and eight non-scoring finishes from 32 starts. It achieved a points total of 12 and 7th place in the Constructors' World Championship standings.
It was replaced at the start of the1994 season by theSauber C13.
The C12 sported a black livery, reminiscent of theC9 Group C prototype sportscar from 1987.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Team Sauber Formula 1 | Sauber[5]V10 | G | RSA | BRA | EUR | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 12 | 7th | |
| Karl Wendlinger | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 13 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 6 | Ret | 4 | 5 | Ret | 15 | ||||||
| JJ Lehto | 5 | Ret | Ret | 4 | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | 9 | Ret | 7 | 8 | Ret |
