The distinctive yellow-and-green Benetton B192 is forever associated with the arrival of Formula One’s racing wonder Michael Schumacher, who became the first German driver to win a Grand Prix since Jochen Mass back in 1975. It is also a reminder of a time when the paths of three extraordinary talents crossed, developing arguably the last succesful ‘analog’ F1 car.

With the purchase of the Toleman team in 1985, Italian fashion giant Benetton had acquired the services of brilliant South African–born designer Rory Byrne. After years of under-investment, Byrne finally had a meaningful design budget, and for the next decade, his genius would dominate Benetton’s drawing office. In 1992 Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) acquired a stake in the team, and supplied the engineering talent of Ross Brawn. The team had already signed up and coming driver Michael Schumacher towards the end of the previous season.

Built around a carbon-fibre composite monocoque with a fully stressed works 3.5-litre Ford Cosworth V8, the all-new Byrne and Brawn design made its debut at the fourth race of 1992. Shared by Martin Brundle and Michael Schumacher, the B192 propelled the team to third in the World Championship. Schumacher was particularly successful, finishing second at the B192's debut in Spain. Later in the year, he scored his maiden Grand Prix victory at Spa, exactly one year after making his Formula 1 debut, finishing third in the Drivers Championship. Together, Schumacher, Byrne and Brawn would go on to win seven world championships.

THE LAST SUCCESSFUL ANALOG F1

The B192 design formed the basis of the successful Benettons that followed. Still using a clutch pedal and manual gearbox, the Benetton B192 was arguably the last successful ‘analog’ F1 car. It was run in the early races of 1993 but by then semi-automatic gearboxes and active suspension control, were becoming the norm.

This 1992 Benetton B192 is owned and driven by Lorina McLaughlin, who as a young racing driver raced Formula Fords against the likes of James Hunt and Alan Jones. After celebrating numerous successes in club racing, Lorina, together with her husband David, focussed on collecting and preserving legendary European Formula One cars. They purchased the car in the United States and ‘brought it home’ to the United Kingdom.

‘Schumi’s first’ will be demonstrated in ‘The Force F1 Legends’ sessions during the TABAC Classic GP Assen.