Tyrrell Racing

Lore & Background

Tyrrell Racing first came into being in 1958, running Formula Three cars for Ken Tyrrell and local stars. Realising he was not racing driver material, Ken Tyrrell stood down as a driver in 1959, and began to run a Formula Junior operation using the woodshed owned by his family business, Tyrrell Brothers, as a workshop. Throughout the 1960s, Tyrrell moved through the lower formulas, variously giving single seater debuts to John Surtees and Jacky Ickx. The team's most famous partnership was the one forged with Jackie Stewart, who first signed up in 1963. Tyrrell ran the Cooper Formula Two operation in 1965 and 1966 whilst Stewart was signed to BRM's Formula One team. The team then signed a deal to run F2 cars made by French company Matra. Tyrrell's first entry into a World Championship Grand Prix was at the 1966 German Grand Prix, entering F2-spec Matra MS5s for Ickx and Hubert Hahne. Hahne finished 9th, runner-up of the F2 cars. However, Ickx was involved in a first-lap crash with the Brabham of John Taylor, who later died from burns sustained in the accident. Tyrrell later entered the 1967 German Grand Prix with an F2 car for Ickx, this time the Matra MS7. Ickx qualified with the 3rd-fastest time, however F2 cars were required to start the race from the back of the grid. He ran as high as 5th before retiring from the race with a broken suspension.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the asphalt at Brands Hatch as the grid waited for the lights to go out. Inside the cockpit, Jackie Stewart gripped the wheel, feeling the raw feedback from the Ford Cosworth engine through his gloves. This wasn't just another race; it was a statement of dominance against the factory giants. As the flag waved, the roar of the V8s drowned out the crowd, marking another chapter in a dynasty built on courage and calculation.

Reader's Guide

With the help of Elf and Ford, Tyrrell achieved his dream of moving to Formula One in 1968 as a team principal for the team officially named Matra International. Stewart won three Grands Prix in the Tyrrell-run Matra MS10. For the 1969 championship, Stewart won the title easily driving the Cosworth-powered Matra MS80. For the 1970 season, after Matra's merger with Simca, Tyrrell bought a March 701 chassis as interim solution while developing his own car in secret. The name of his team was officially changed to Tyrrell Racing Organisation at the beginning of the 1970 season. The Tyrrell 001 emerged at the end of the 1970 season. The nearly identical Tyrrell 003 won both Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 1971. Stewart's 1972 challenge was ruined by a stomach ulcer, but he returned to full fitness in 1973. He and Cevert finished first and fourth in the Championship, but Cevert was killed in practice for the final race. Stewart retired at the end of the season. The team remained a force throughout the 1970s, winning races with Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler. Most notable was Scheckter's triumph at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix, giving Tyrrell a 1–2 finish driving the Tyrrell P34, the first (and only) successful six-wheeler F1 car. The design was abandoned after Goodyear refused to develop the small tyres. In the summer of 1979, Ken Tyrrell found a sponsor: Italian appliance manufacturing group Candy. The final win for the Cosworth Ford DFV engine was taken by a Tyrrell car at the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix, which was also Tyrrell's last Grand Prix win.

Did You Know?

• Tyrrell's first entry into a World Championship Grand Prix was at the 1966 German Grand Prix with F2-spec Matra MS5s.
• The Tyrrell P34 was the first (and only) successful six-wheeler F1 car.
• The final win for the Ford Cosworth DFV engine was taken by a Tyrrell car at the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix.
• Tyrrell's legacy continues as the Mercedes-AMG F1 team through various sales and rebrandings.