Apollon was a Swiss Formula One constructor that enjoyed one of the shortest careers in World Championship history. Founded by racing driver Loris Kessel, the team made just a single attempt to qualify for a Formula One Grand Prix before disappearing from the sport.
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Years Active | 1977 |
| First Race | 1977 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last Race | 1977 Italian Grand Prix |
| Race Entries | 1 |
| Race Starts | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Pole Positions | 0 |
| Fastest Laps | 0 |
| Points | 0 |
| Constructors’ Championships | 0 |
| Drivers’ Championships | 0 |
| Best Start | DNQ (from F1 appearances) |
| Best Finish | Never classified |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
| Retirements | 0 |
The project came together after Kessel parted ways with John Macdonald’s RAM Racing team. Hoping to remain on the Formula One grid, he approached Frank Williams in search of a race seat. Although Williams had no vacancy available, he offered Kessel the opportunity to purchase one of the team’s older cars, the Williams FW03. Kessel accepted and set about transforming the ageing machine into the foundation of his own Formula One entry.
To support the venture, Kessel secured backing from Jolly Club, an organisation with an impressive record in touring car and rally competition. He also recruited former Ferrari designer Giacomo Caliri, who extensively revised the FW03. The redesigned car featured a distinctive elongated nose and an unusual cooling arrangement, with the radiators mounted ahead of the front suspension. Renamed the Apollon Fly after the project’s main sponsor, the car looked dramatically different from the Williams on which it was based.
A series of transport problems delayed the team’s debut, preventing Apollon from reaching a Formula One event until the Italian Grand Prix late in the 1977 season.
When the car finally appeared at Monza, it quickly became clear that the ageing chassis could not compete with the latest generation of Formula One machinery. Kessel was more than eight seconds slower than pole-sitter James Hunt and failed to qualify for the race.
The Italian Grand Prix proved to be Apollon’s one and only World Championship appearance. The car never raced again, and the team was disbanded shortly afterwards, bringing the brief Swiss Formula One project to an end.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Driver | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Apollon Fly | Ford Cosworth V8 | G | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | USA | CAN | JPN | 0 | NC | ||
| Loris Kessel | 41 | DNA | DNA | DNA | DNA | DNQ |
