144: Is a Retired F1 Car the Ultimate Track Toy?

Formula 1 represents the pinnacle of motorsport and James Densley along with the team at TDF Limited are breathing new life into retired F1 cars, transforming them back into the ultimate track weapons.

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James shares his journey from a car-obsessed child through karting to mechanic at the top levels of motorsport. He recounts his experiences in Formula 3 and then with Mercedes F1, before explaining how TDF Limited was founded and started specialising in restoring and supporting retired F1 cars.

The conversation explores the complexities involved in purchasing, restoring, and maintaining historic F1 cars, including the challenges posed by obsolete electronics and sourcing rare components. James emphasises the critical role of modern technologies such as 3D scanning in facilitating these restoration projects.

We also discuss the operational and logistical challenges of running historic F1 cars today, the development of the TDF One program to make these cars more accessible, and the technical hurdles of modernizing powertrains while preserving the true essence of Formula 1 racing.

It’s unfortunate that these extraordinary machines often face the scrap heap or sit around as expensive ornaments after their brief racing lives. What TDF Limited are achieving by resurrecting these masterpieces and returning them to the track is truly groundbreaking.

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Follow James here:

Instagram: @tdf_limitedYouTube: @tdflimitedWWW: tdf.co.uk

Timestamps:

0:00 Is a Retired F1 Car the Ultimate Track Toy?4:22 How did you form an interest in cars? 6:34 What’s a race weekend look like in Formula 3?7:59 How do limited slip diffs work?9:19 Tell us about Mercedes F114:00 What is TDF and how did it come to be?18:20 How does TDF Works get a hold of used F1 cars?22:22 Used F1 engines, are they hard to find and get running?27:45 How do we get a trans axel for one of these cars?31:50 What is seamless gear shifting and how does it work?34:41 How do you go about running these cars on old electronics?45:03 How do you source replacement body and aero parts?49:50 Can you put something like a Judd V10 in one of these chassis?52:37 What’s it look like for TDF Works to take a F1 car to the track for the day?58:04 Can you give us an idea of the hydraulic system?59:05 What is TDF One and how does it work?1:02:55 How much of a debate was it to go to a turbo 4 cylinder?1:06:29 How much HP are the genuine F1 cars making compared to TDF One?1:07:59 What is the 4 cylinder engine in the TDF One cars?1:11:03 Are you running a F2 trans axel in the rear?1:12:52 What’s the electronics package and have you added ABS & Traction control?1:15:46 How often do you need to overhaul the engine and gearbox and other parts?1:20:50 How does crack testing on carbon fibre work?1:22:15 How much does a TDF One car cost to run?1:23:57 How many TDF One cars are out there?1:24:44 What’s the build time on one of these cars?1:28:26 Final 3 questions