Covini's six wheeled sportscar

In the case of Formula 1, where aerodynamic efficiency is critical, the lower profile of the front wheels offers a theoretical advantage but whether that advantage was ever demonstrated with the Tyrrell P34 is arguable. Aerodynamic focus has shifted in recent decades to how a car leaves the air it passes through rather than the initial penetration of the air it is pushing out of the way. The high profile of the rear wheels of a Formula One car simply shifted the aerodynamic problems of the P34 rather than reducing them and the high-creativity and low-budget Tyrrell concern did not have the development resources available to work through all the new issues its design raised. Covini's collaborators in the project include DAEWOO (technological research on prototypes), BOSCH (electronic and braking system), BREMBO (brake system), MOMO (airbag and new technology), PIRELLI (special tyres and research), ANTERA (special ultra-light alloy wheels) and POLITECNICO DI MILANO (optimization of the chassis set-up).

For a road-going six-wheeler though, there is no aerodynamic advantage and there's additional cost and mechanical complexity, none of which matter on a very expensive, low-volume supercar such as the Covini.

The P34 experienced a host of development issues which technology has since solved.

The P34 had trouble with cooling the rear-front-brakes - materials technology has solved that problem.

The P34 had trouble when front wheels locked, because a front-front lock-up effectively lengthened the wheelbase and slowed the steering whereas a rear-front lock-up shortened the chassis and quickened the steering. The development of anti-lock braking technologies in the subsequent decades can ensure that all four front wheels retain optimum traction.

Covini's car certainly looks the business - in the go-department it is powered by an Audi 4.2 litre V8 motor (283.4 kw / 380 bhp @ 6400 rpm) which powers it to a top speed of 300 kmh.

No price has yet been set for the Covini, but as the saying goes, 'if you have to ask the price on this car, you can't afford it.'

SPECIAL THANKS - thanks to FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix World Championship for the photos of the P34 Tyrrell. The TGP F1 championship series will be the feature of an upcoming article - check out the series web site where you can follow what is essentially vintage motorsport in ex-F1 cars and if you have a lazy $500K don't miss their used car section which is comprised of largely ex-F1 racecars.