Paul Crooks
Encyclopedia
Paul Crooks is a former Formula One
engineer.
Crooks began his career as an apprentice aeronautical engineer when he was 17 at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
based in Farnborough
. He spent five years there before joining RAE
at the age of 22. For the next five years he worked as a detail designer on aerospace projects, working alongside Frank Coppuck
. From there, he got a job with Toleman Group Motorsport
(later Benetton Formula
1, now Renault F1
as a detail designer. He worked under Rory Byrne
for the next six years, before moving up to chief composite design engineer in 1983.
In 1993, Crooks became Ligier's chief designer under Frank Dernie
, but with the arrest of team boss Cyril de Rouvre, which sent the team into decline, Crooks joined Simtek
. While with Simtek, he designed both the S941
and S951
. He stayed with them until the team left Formula One
in the middle of 1995
. He went back to Ligier, before joining Jordan
. He later went to BAR
and Minardi
.
Crooks now works for Wirth Research, who designed the Acura ARX-01a, ARX-01b and ARX-02a.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
engineer.
Crooks began his career as an apprentice aeronautical engineer when he was 17 at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
based in Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
. He spent five years there before joining RAE
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
at the age of 22. For the next five years he worked as a detail designer on aerospace projects, working alongside Frank Coppuck
Frank Coppuck
Frank Coppuck is a British engineer and racing car designer, who helped design the Pacific PR01 and PR02 Formula One cars.The son of Formula One engineer Gordon Coppuck, Frank was born before his father began working in motor racing...
. From there, he got a job with Toleman Group Motorsport
Toleman
Toleman Motosport was a Formula One constructor based in the UK. It was active between 1981 and 1985 and attended 70 Grands Prix.-Origins:In the 1970s, businessmen and motorsport fans Ted Toleman and Alex Hawkridge began their involvement in various car racing formulae in the UK. Ted was also noted...
(later Benetton Formula
Benetton Formula
Benetton Formula Ltd., commonly referred to simply as Benetton, was a Formula One constructor that participated from to . The team was owned by the Benetton family who run a worldwide chain of clothing stores of the same name. In 2000 the team was purchased by Renault, but competed as Benetton for...
1, now Renault F1
Renault F1
Lotus Renault GP, formerly the Renault F1 Team, is a British Formula One racing team. The Oxfordshire-based team can trace its roots back through the Benetton team of the late 1980s and 1990s to the Toleman team of the early 1980s. Renault had also competed in various forms since , before taking...
as a detail designer. He worked under Rory Byrne
Rory Byrne
Rory Byrne is a South African engineer and car designer, most famous for being the chief designer at the Benetton and Scuderia Ferrari Formula One teams....
for the next six years, before moving up to chief composite design engineer in 1983.
In 1993, Crooks became Ligier's chief designer under Frank Dernie
Frank Dernie
Frank Dernie is a veteran British engineer with extensive Formula One motorsport experience.-Career:Dernie was brought up in Lancashire and educated at Kirkham Grammar School before he studied engineering at the Imperial College London university...
, but with the arrest of team boss Cyril de Rouvre, which sent the team into decline, Crooks joined Simtek
Simtek
Simtek was an engineering consultancy firm and Formula One racing team. The F1 engineering consultancy arm, Simtek Research, was founded in 1989 by Max Mosley and Nick Wirth. It originally was involved in many areas of Formula One, including wind tunnel construction and chassis building for third...
. While with Simtek, he designed both the S941
Simtek S941
The Simtek S941 is a Formula One car, designed by Nick Wirth and Paul Crooks for the Simtek team, and used during 1994 Formula One season. Although it was the first car to race under the Simtek name the company had previously designed an unbuilt car for BMW - the unbuilt design formed the basis of...
and S951
Simtek S951
The Simtek S951 was a Formula One car for the 1995 season. The number 11 seat was taken by Domenico Schiattarella and the number 12 seat was taken by Jos Verstappen. The teams test driver was Hideki Noda. Noda was set to take the number 11 seat for the second half of the season, but the team closed...
. He stayed with them until the team left Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
in the middle of 1995
1995 Formula One season
The 1995 Formula One season was the 46th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1995 FIA Formula One World Championship, which was contested over 17 races from March 26 to November 12, 1995. For the second year in succession, the Drivers' Championship was won by Michael Schumacher,...
. He went back to Ligier, before joining Jordan
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
. He later went to BAR
British American Racing
British American Racing was a Formula One constructor that competed in the sport from 1999 to 2005. BAR began by acquiring Tyrrell, and used Supertec engines for their first year...
and Minardi
Minardi
Minardi was an automobile racing team and constructor founded in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. It competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1985 until 2005 with little success, nevertheless acquiring a loyal following of fans...
.
Crooks now works for Wirth Research, who designed the Acura ARX-01a, ARX-01b and ARX-02a.