Tyrrell 012

Tyrrell 012

Company type	Racing car
Industry	Formula One racing
Founded	1983
Founder	Maurice Philippe (engineer)
Key people	Ken Tyrrell (team principal), Maurice Philippe (engineer), Michele Alboreto, Martin Brundle, Stefan Bellof (drivers)
Products	Formula One car

The Tyrrell 012 is a Formula One racing car engineered by Maurice Philippe for the Tyrrell outfit. It made its debut during the season and remained in competition through and into the early part of .

1983

Marking a milestone for Tyrrell, the 012 was their inaugural chassis predominantly constructed from carbon fibre, following the lead of innovators such as Lotus and McLaren. It incorporated a short-stroke variant of the Ford Cosworth DFV engine, an engine previously supplied to Lotus before their transition to Renault turbo power units. In 1983, the team secured sponsorship from the Benetton apparel company, which provided a robust financial backing that facilitated efficient development of the car. Although the 012 was lightweight and nimble, it was outmatched by rivals equipped with more potent turbocharged engines.

Under the guidance of team principal Ken Tyrrell, known for fostering emerging driving talent, second-year driver Michele Alboreto managed to earn points at the car's inaugural race held at Zandvoort.

Boomerang car

The original Tyrrell 012 stood out due to its uniquely shaped triangular rear wing, which earned it the nickname "boomerang." This aerodynamic feature appeared only once during a Grand Prix weekend when Michele Alboreto used it in practice at the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix. Additionally, it was seen during Formula One tyre testing sessions at Brands Hatch in 1983. Despite attracting attention for its unconventional design, this wing configuration saw limited competitive deployment.

1984

For the 1984 season, Tyrrell attracted sponsorship from Leeds-based minicomputer producer Systime Computers Ltd. With Michele Alboreto moving on to Scuderia Ferrari, newcomers Martin Brundle and Stefan Bellof joined the team. The 012 underwent modifications including reduced-size sidepods and an enlarged rear wing aimed at increasing downforce. Ford provided an upgraded DFY engine, making Tyrrell the last established outfit to run this powerplant. Both drivers demonstrated potential through consistent finishes and podium appearances. Nevertheless, after Brundle’s runner-up result at the Detroit Grand Prix, the FIA disqualified the team for regulatory violations, leading to their exclusion from that year’s championship.

1985

In early 1985, the 012 continued to compete with Bellof securing several points finishes before being replaced by the Renault turbo-powered 014 model, which featured a chassis closely resembling that of the 012. The DFY engine used in the 012 was estimated to be around 300 horsepower weaker than rival turbocharged units that season. Significantly, Martin Brundle drove the 012 at the 1985 Austrian Grand Prix—the last occasion a Formula One car raced with a Cosworth DFY engine—although he did not qualify.

By this time, the 012 was Formula One’s only non-turbocharged car, placing Tyrrell at a marked disadvantage in terms of power output. This disparity was evident at the 1985 French Grand Prix on the Mistral Straight: Brundle qualified 20th in the turbocharged Renault-powered 014, outpacing Bellof’s Cosworth-engined 012 by roughly 4.4 seconds; Bellof ended up qualifying last. Brundle remarked that during a fast lap he closed from approximately 100 yards behind Bellof to just a tiny speck in his rearview mirror by Signes corner. The turbocharged Renault-powered 014 reached top speeds near , about faster than the older 012 model.

Beyond Formula One competition, two chassis of the 012 were utilized by Barron Racing Team in the 1985 International Formula 3000 championship.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Driver	No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Pts.	WCC
Template:F1	Benetton Tyrrell Racing Team	Cosworth DFY V8 NA	Template:Goodyear			BRA	USW	FRA	SMR	MON	BEL	DET	CAN	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	RSA		12*	7th
				Michele Alboreto	3											Ret	6	Ret	Ret	Ret
				Danny Sullivan	4														Ret	7
Template:F1	Tyrrell Racing Organisation	Cosworth DFY V8 NA	Template:Goodyear		BRA	RSA	BEL	SMR	FRA	MON	CAN	DET	DAL	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	POR	style="background:#000; color:white;" rowspan="5"|0** style="background:#000; color:white;" rowspan="5"|EX

*11 points accumulated with the use of the Tyrrell 011 during the Template:F1 season
** Tyrrell Racing was excluded from the entire Template:F1 championship