Arrows launches revolutionary three-seater

The Orange-backed Leafield team unveiled its new machine at Autosport International 2001 at the NEC at Birmingham this morning. It claims the revolutionary design means its passengers will get much more of a feel of what it's really like in an F1 car than a two-seater.

"The AX3 has been designed to give a truer experience than ever before of what an F1 driver sees and feels from the cockpit," said team principle Tom Walkinshaw. "A lot has been written about the acceleration, G-forces and braking capabilities of these racing cars, but we are now furthering the opportunity to give people an appreciation of what it's really like."

The AX3's two passengers sit behind and either side of the driver, meaning they can get a better view of the track ahead.

"The main aim of the three-seater is to create an experience that is even better than the two-seater," said Arrows' head of marketing Steve Hood. "By sitting slightly to the side, passengers will have a totally uncompromised view of the track ahead, which is what a driver sees. So they can see corners coming up and think, 'Hang on, didn't we pass what would be a sensible braking point 100 metres ago?'"

The car is expected to have a top speed of over 220mph, and will use an engine developed by Arrows itself, which produces 680bhp. Its 0-100mph time should be around five seconds.

"A three-seater places the passengers directly in the airstream, so they feel the same forces on the head as a driver," Hood added. "These elements, plus the fact of being sat at the same height of the driver, will provide a more realistic view of what an F1 driver experiences."

Two AX3s should be on the track, and giving passenger rides, by May.