Cooper T23

{{Short description|Racing automobile}} {{Racing car | Car_name = Cooper T23 | Image = frameless|upright=1.25 | Category = Formula One, Formula Two | Constructor = Cooper Car Company | Designer = Owen Maddock | Predecessor = Cooper T20 | Successor = Cooper T24/Cooper T41 | Team = Cooper Car Company | Drivers = {{flagicon|GBR}} Ken Wharton<br />{{flagicon|GBR}} Bob Gerard | Chassis = Steel spaceframe | Front suspension = Lower wishbone, transverse leaf spring and damper | Rear suspension = Lower wishbone, transverse leaf spring and damper | Wheelbase = {{convert|2268|mm|in|abbr=on}} | Track = {{convert|1168|mm|in|abbr=on}} (front), {{convert|1175|mm|in|abbr=on}} (rear) | Engine name = Bristol BS1 | Capacity = 1,971cc | Turbo/NA = naturally aspirated, | Configuration = straight-6, | Engine position = longitudinally mounted, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout | Gearbox name = Bristol | Gears = 4 speed | Type = manual gearbox. | Brakes = Drum brakes all round | Weight = {{convert|471|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | Differential = | Fuel = | Tyres = Dunlop | Debut = 1953 Argentine Grand Prix | Races = 9 | Wins = 0 | Cons_champ = | Drivers_champ = | Poles = 0 | Fastest_laps = 0 | }}

The '''Cooper T23''', formally called the '''Cooper Mk.II''', is a Formula 2 racing car, built, designed, and developed by British manufacturer Cooper Cars in 1953. It also competed in Formula One, in 9 Grand Prix between 1953 and 1956. It was powered by the Bristol six-cylinder 2-litre engine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/s13759/cooper-t23-mkii.aspx | title=1953 Cooper T23 MKII technical and mechanical specifications }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/cooper-t23.aspx | title=Cooper T23 • STATS F1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4325/Cooper-T23-Bristol-Mk-II.html | title=1953 Cooper T23 Bristol Mk II - Images, Specifications and Information }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1953 Cooper T23 Bristol Mk II Specifications |url=https://www.ultimatecarpage.com//spec/4325/Cooper-T23-Bristol-Mk-II.html |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Ultimatecarpage.com}}</ref>

==Development== With the Cooper T23, which was also known as the '''Cooper-Bristol Mk.II''', Cooper was able to draw on some experience in single-seater racing car construction. The car had a lightweight tubular frame and a body built with aerodynamics in mind. The engine got its cooling air from two cooling blocks that were installed in the front end. The exhaust gases were discharged laterally through two pipes. There are no similar vehicles from the T23. Changes were made to each new car and only the two works cars received a Bristol engine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-02-24 |title=The Cooper T23, its Bristol/BMW engine and Spaceframe chassis… |url=https://primotipo.com/2017/02/24/the-cooper-t23-its-bristolbmw-engine-and-spaceframe-chassis/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=primotipo... |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1953 Cooper T23 MKII |url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13759/cooper-t23-mkii.aspx |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=conceptcarz.com |language=en}}</ref>

A version with De Dion rear axle and Alta engine was built for Stirling Moss, and at least two other Alta-engined cars were built, but they were no more successful than the Bristol-engined car.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/Cooper/T23.html|title=Cooper T23|access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://formula143.org/2020/04/22/1953-cooper-t23-gould/ | title=1953 Cooper T23 Gould | date=22 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/14250/lot/348/ | title=Bonhams : 1954/1988 Cooper-Bristol T23 Formula 2 Single-Seater Chassis no. CB/1/88 }}</ref> This variant is known as the Cooper T24.

==Racing history== The Cooper T23 competed in 9 Grands Prix between 1953 and 1956. John Barber was the first to drive it, on behalf of Cooper Car Company, at the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix. Qualified in sixteenth position, he finished eighth.

Bob Gerard, in a private capacity, was the last driver to use the single-seater, in the 1956 British Grand Prix. Qualified in twenty-second place, he finished eleventh.

Ken Wharton, who entered on a private basis, obtained the best result behind the wheel of this car, finishing seventh in the 1953 Swiss Motor Grand Prix where he qualified in ninth place.

The car was overall unsuccessful. In the Drivers' Championship, Bob Gerard and Ken Wharton failed to score points in 1953. Only in Australian Formula Libre racing has Jack Brabham achieved some good results with the T23.

== Formula One World Championship results== (key) (results in '''bold''' indicate pole position; results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" ! Year ! Entrant ! Engine ! Tyres ! Driver ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 |- !rowspan="9"| {{F1|1953}} |rowspan="3"| Cooper Car Company |rowspan="9"| Bristol BS1 L6 |rowspan="9"| {{Dunlop}} | | ARG | 500 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA |- |align="left"|John Barber |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 8 | | | | | | | | |- |rowspan=2 align="left"|Ken Wharton | | | | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 8 | | | |- |Ken Wharton | | |style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| Ret | |style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| Ret | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 7 |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| NC |- |F.R. Gerard |align="left"|Bob Gerard | | | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 11 |style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| Ret | | | |- |R.J. Chase |rowspan = 2 align="left"|Alan Brown | | | | | |style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| Ret | | | |- |rowspan=2|Equipe Anglaise | | | | | | |style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| Ret | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 12 |- |align="left"|Helmut Glockler | | | | | | |style="background-color:#FFFFFF"| DNS | | |- |Rodney Nuckey |align="left"|Rodney Nuckey | | | | | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 11 | | |- !rowspan="6"| {{F1|1954}} |rowspan="2"| R.J. Chase |rowspan="6"| Bristol BS1 L6 |rowspan="6"| {{Dunlop}} | | ARG | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | ESP |- |align="left"|Alan Brown | | | | |style="background-color:#FFFFFF"| DNS | | | | |- |Gould's Garage |align="left"|Horace Gould | | | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 15 | | | | |- |F.R. Gerard |align="left"|Bob Gerard | | | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 10 | | | | |- |rowspan=2 |Ecurie Richmond |align="left"|Eric Brandon | | | | |style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| Ret | | | | |- |align="left"|Rodney Nuckey | | | | |style="background-color:#FFFFFF"| DNS{{dagger}} | | | | |- !rowspan="2"| {{F1|1956}} |rowspan="2"| F.R. Gerard |rowspan="2"| Bristol BS1 L6 |rowspan="2"| {{Dunlop}} | | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | |- |align="left"|Bob Gerard | | | | | |style="background-color:#CFCFFF"| 11 | | | |- |}

{{dagger}} Nuckey was awarded a starting position despite not only not having practiced, but also not having a car to drive - Brandon drove the car.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Cooper racing cars Category:Formula Two cars