Fittipaldi FD04
Fittipaldi FD04, 1976
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Fittipaldi | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Richard Divila | ||||||||
| Successor | Fittipaldi F5 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium alloy monocoque | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,500 mm (59 in) Rear: 1,560 mm (61 in) (FD04) Front: 1,500 mm (59 in) Rear: 1,550 mm (61 in) (FD03) |
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| Wheelbase | 2,341 mm (92.2 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) V8 naturally aspirated, mid-mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland FG/FGA 400 6-speed manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 602 kg (1,327 lb) (FD03) 640 kg (1,410 lb) (FD04) |
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| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Copersucar-Fittipaldi | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |
 Emerson Fittipaldi
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| Debut | 1975 Argentine Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. |
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The Fittipaldi FD was a series of Formula One chassis designed by Richard Divila and used by Fittipaldi Automotive in the 1975, 1976 and 1977 seasons. The initial chassis was designated Fittipaldi FD01 and there were three minor developments designated, Fittipaldi FD02, Fittipaldi FD03 and Fittipaldi FD04 respectively. FD series cars competed in 37 races making 43 individual entries in total. The chassis achieved a best finish of fourth place at both the 1977 Argentine and Brazilian Grands Prix driven on each occasion by former World Champion and joint team-owner Emerson Fittipaldi. It scored a total of 11 World Championship points.
Fittipaldi was formed by the Fittipaldi Brothers (Wilson and Emerson). In late 1973, the brothers decided to start their own Formula One team. The 1974 season was spent setting up the new team, which was to have a strong Brazilian flavour. Wilson was able to persuade Brazilian sugar and alcohol cooperative Copersucar to act as sponsor. Emerson acted as a consultant to the team whilst still driving for McLaren. The Copersucar-branded car was designed by Brazilian Richard Divila, who had worked for Fittipaldi, designing Formula Vee and Formula Two cars, and modifying their Lotus and Brabham chassis. National aerospace company Embraer was also involved, supplying materials to the fledgling team and providing wind-tunnel time. Mexican Jo Ramírez was hired as team manager. The team was based in Brazil, almost 6,000 miles (10,000 km) away from the United Kingdom, a bold move given the overwhelmingly British nature of Formula One technology from the 1960s onwards. The long and low FD01, with bulbous bodywork enclosing the engine and unusual rear-mounted radiators, painted in silver with rainbow markings on the flanks, was unveiled in October 1974 at the Federal Senate in Brasilia in the presence of President Ernesto Geisel. Like Brabham's BT series of cars (Brabham and Tauranac), the car's FD designation reflected the initials of the driver and the designer (Fittipaldi and Divila).
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