Editing Connaught Engineering (section)

==History==

In 1950, the first single-seaters, the Formula 2 [[Connaught Type A|"A" types]], used an engine that was developed by Connaught from the [[Lea-Francis]] engine used in their "L" type sports cars. The engine was extensively re-engineered and therefore is truly a Connaught engine. The cars were of conventional construction for the time with drive through a preselector gearbox to a de Dion rear axle. In 1952 and 1953, the Grand Prix races counting towards the World Championship were to Formula 2 rules so drivers of these cars could take part in those events as the table below shows.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Wasef |first=Basem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F4mnIiNxJigC&dq=connaught+engineering&pg=PA147 |title=Legendary Race Cars |date=2009-10-09 |publisher=Motorbooks |isbn=978-0-7603-3548-2 |pages=147–149 |language=en}}</ref>

Connaught designed a new car for the 2½ litre Formula 1 of 1954 which was to have a rear-mounted Coventry Climax V8 engine (the "Godiva"), but when the engine was not proceeded with, a conventionally arranged [[Connaught Type B|"B" type]] was designed using an Alta engine developed into 2½ litre form. The first cars were built with all-enveloping aerodynamic bodywork but later rebodied conventionally (as the photos below show). In 1955, driving a Connaught in this form, [[Tony Brooks (racing driver)|Tony Brooks]] scored the first win in a Grand Prix by a British driver in a British car since 1923, in a non World Championship race at Syracuse. Thereafter the "B" type has been known as the "Syracuse" Connaught and the name was used for the car presented in the 2004 revival.<ref name=":0" />

In [[1962 Indianapolis 500|1962]], [[Jack Fairman]] attempted to qualify for the [[Indianapolis 500]] in a Connaught race car, but failed to find the necessary speed to make the field.