Front view of 1998, Benetton B198 Formula One Car, (Ex Giancarlo Fisichella, at the 2020 London Classic Car Show
The Benetton B198 is a Formula One racing car with which the Benetton Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One season. It was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, who had moved from Jordan, and Alexander Wurz, who was in his first full season of F1 after deputising for the unwell Gerhard Berger in 1997. The B198 was launched on 15 January in London at the London Television Centre. The unveiling of the new car, the B198, coincided with the announcement of a major new technical partnership with Bridgestone, the world's largest manufacturer of tyres who are entering only their second season of F1 racing. David Richards, Benetton's CEO said, "I want us to build consistency this year with improved results, I am hoping for success, but I am also interested in the longer term and believe we can lay down the foundations this year for a sustained success in the future." The season got off to a decent start for Benetton with 2 consecutive second place finishes by Fisichella and later a pole position at Austria. The form however failed to continue throughout the season with the team afterwards blaming Bridgestone for favouring champions McLaren. Benetton finished the season 5th in the Constructors' Championship with 33 points. B198 in its original livery at the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix. Fisichella in front, Wurz follows. Early in the season, Benetton held third place in the Constructors' Championship after Fisichella finished second at two successive races and took pole position in Austria. However, the team ultimately finished the season in fifth place, placing some blame with Bridgestone for favouring eventual champions McLaren, the tyre supplier's top team at that time.
Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Olympia Exhibition Centre, West Kensington, London, W14 United Kingdom
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 4, 1998, 2020, 700+bhp, b198, benetton, car, centre, classic, duncan, exhibition, fisichella, formula, front, gearbox, giancarlo, hamilton, judd, london, ltr, olympia, original, paddle, pneumatic, prepared, race, rofgo, sale, shift, show, stand, steering, v10, view, wheel
