Tyrrell Racing

Founding story

Ken Tyrrell began his involvement in motorsport in 1958, initially running Formula Three cars for himself and other drivers. Realising he was not racing driver material, Tyrrell transitioned to team management in 1959, establishing a Formula Junior operation from a workshop within his family’s Tyrrell Brothers business. Throughout the 1960s, Tyrrell’s team progressed through the lower racing formulas, providing early opportunities for drivers like John Surtees and Jacky Ickx. A key partnership formed with Jackie Stewart in 1963, laying the groundwork for future success. Tyrrell ran BRM’s Formula Two operation from 1965 to 1967 whilst Stewart was signed to BRM’s Formula One team. In 1966, Tyrrell entered a World Championship Grand Prix at the German Grand Prix with Matra MS5 F2 cars, achieving a 9th-place finish for Hubert Hahne.

Formula One (1968–1998)

Tyrrell entered Formula One in 1968 as “Matra International,” a joint venture with the French manufacturer Matra. Stewart proved competitive, winning three Grands Prix in the Tyrrell-run Matra MS10. This car featured innovative structural fuel tanks, designed to reduce weight and increase strength. However, the FIA banned this technology for 1970, mandating rubber bag-tanks. In 1969, Matra focused its efforts on supporting Tyrrell, developing the Cosworth-powered Matra MS80, which allowed Stewart to win the Drivers’ Championship. This was the first Drivers’ title won by a French car, and the only one won by a car built and entered by a privateer team.

For the 1970 season, following a merger between Matra and Simca, Tyrrell was asked to use the Matra V12 engine. Stewart found it inferior to the Cosworth DFV, and with funding from Ford and French petroleum company Elf (which had an agreement with Renault precluding support for Simca), Tyrrell opted for a March 701 chassis as an interim solution while developing their own car. The team officially became Tyrrell Racing Organisation-organisation) at the start of 1970, retaining the traditional French blue racing colours due to Elf’s sponsorship. The Tyrrell 001 emerged at the end of 1970, with Stewart achieving pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The Tyrrell 003 secured both the 1971 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with Stewart and François Cevert. Stewart continued to be a frontrunner in 1972 and 1973, with Cevert finishing fourth in the championship in 1973. Tragically, Cevert was killed in practice for the 1973 United States Grand Prix, prompting Stewart to retire immediately, effectively handing the Constructors' title to Lotus. Despite this loss, Tyrrell continued to achieve race wins throughout the 1970s with drivers like Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler. The most notable of these wins was Scheckter’s victory at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix, achieved in the distinctive six-wheeled Tyrrell P34. The P34 was the first and only successful six-wheeled Formula One car, but the project was abandoned when Goodyear declined to further develop the smaller tyres required for the car.

The 1980s proved challenging for Tyrrell, as the team struggled to compete with the increasingly powerful turbocharged engines. They remained the last team to race with the Cosworth DFV engine, and Ken Tyrrell protested that turbochargers violated a previous ban on turbines. The team secured its final Grand Prix win at the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix-circuit) with Michele Alboreto driving the Tyrrell 011.

The 1984 season was marked by controversy when Tyrrell was accused of running underweight cars by adding water and lead shot to meet weight regulations after qualifying. The team was excluded from the 1984 World Championship and banned from the final three races of the season.

1990s

Tyrrell continued through the 1980s and 1990s, often operating with limited funding. A brief resurgence occurred in the early 1990s with the innovative Tyrrell 019, designed by Harvey Postlethwaite, and Jean Alesi, who achieved two second-place finishes in 1990. Honda engines and Braun sponsorship in 1991 helped Stefano Modena achieve a front row start at Monaco and a second-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, the team’s performance declined, and their last points were scored by Mika Salo at the 1997 Monaco Grand Prix.

Ken Tyrrell sold the team to Craig Pollock after the 1997 season; British American Tobacco provided funding and sponsorship for Pollock’s British American Racing (BAR) project. The team completed its final season as Tyrrell in 1998, with a disappointing performance.

Legacy

The teams descended from Tyrrell – BAR, Honda, and Mercedes – have collectively won 134 Grands Prix, 8 Drivers’ Championships and 9 Constructors’ Championships as of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix. The Tyrrell P34 remains a unique and innovative design in Formula One history. The Minardi 2-seater F1 cars are based on the 1998 Tyrrell 026 design. Ken Tyrrell died in 2001.