by Stuart Milne

The worst car ever to enter F1 will be appearing at this year's Festival of Speed.

The Life L190 travelled to 14 grand prix meets in 1990, but was typically 20 seconds too slow for it to make the starting grid.

And in a world where a single second can make a difference between pole position and mid-grid, 20 seconds was nothing short of catastrophic.

Powered by a W12 engine developing 375bhp – around half of the dominating McLaren Hondas – it was around 40mph slower through the speed traps. At the 1990 British Grand Prix, the supporting Formula Three cars were only three seconds slower.

The Life L190 will be driven by Derek Bell, who was drawn to the car because of its peculiar history. A Goodwood spokesman told motorsport website f1fanatic.co.uk the car will run with its original W12 engine which in 1990 was incapable of powering the car for more than a few laps at a time. "The car might actually be in rather better condition now than it was 19 years ago” he said.

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