Arrows' chief notoriety came in 1997 when they attracted a team-less Damon Hill to the wheel following the then world champion's undignified exist from Williams. Yet it would hardly prove a marriage made in heaven, and Arrows still cling on to the unfortunate record of having completed the most grand prix without a win.

To his credit a frustrated Hill did claim second spot in Hungary that year with only a hydraulic problem on the last lap preventing deserved victory.

The team was originally set up by a group of ex-Shadow personnel in 1978. A new car was designed and built for the opening race of the season in South Africa, however, the car was found to be far too similar to the Shadow DN9 and the team had to build a brand new chassis.

The driving responsibility was Riccardo Patrese's who scored a few points finishes during his four years with Arrows. The highlight came with pole position in the 1981 US Grand Prix.

But the Eighties proved to be lean times for Arrows with a forgettable selection of cars and drivers. Still, things picked up, as they so often do if you wait around long enough, and the highlight of the decade came when Arrows bought re-badged BMW engines and Ross Brawn joined as designer.

In 1988 Derek Warwick and Eddie Cheever took the A10 to the team's highest ever constructors' championship finish of fourth.

The following year Arrows were taken over by the Japanese corporation Footwork, and although this association allowed more money to be thrown at problems, it brought little success.

By 1994 the team was back to being entered as Arrows with Gianni Morbidelli and Christian Fittipaldi as drivers. Morbidelli remained for 1995 and scored third in the Australian Grand Prix.

A defining moment came in 1996 when Tom Walkinshaw bought Arrows from owner Jackie Oliver with the team immediately beginning to look a more serious outfit.

Walkinshaw brought in Hill although a Yamaha engine continued to lack power and reliability.

1998 and 1999 weren't good years for the team as it struggled with its own in-house engine programme, although the new Supertec-powered A21 looks like lifting the team out of the doldrums.