Tyrrell P34
| Company type | Racing car |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorsport |
| Founded | September 1975 |
| Founder | Derek Gardner (designer) |
| Products | Formula One racing car |
The Tyrrell P34 (Project 34), often referred to as the "six-wheeler," was an innovative Formula One vehicle engineered by Tyrrell's lead designer, Derek Gardner. Its distinctive configuration included four custom-made 10-inch (254 mm) front wheels paired with two standard rear wheels. Alongside the 1978 Brabham BT46B "fancar," the six-wheeled Tyrrell stands out as one of the most daring and iconic designs in the history of motorsport.
Launched in September 1975 and competing throughout the 1976 Formula One season, the P34 achieved significant results that inspired other teams to investigate six-wheel concepts. Nevertheless, alterations made for the 1977 Formula One season diminished its performance, prompting Tyrrell to discontinue the design for their 1978 entry. Other six-wheeled endeavors were also abandoned, and later F1 regulations mandated a maximum of four wheels per car. Subsequently, the P34 enjoyed success in historic racing events and has become a valuable exhibit in automotive museums.
Design
During the mid-1970s, Formula One rules restricted front wing width to 1.5 m. This limitation caused front tyres to protrude beyond the wing because space was necessary for driver controls and suspension components. The P34's groundbreaking idea was to employ smaller front tyres completely behind the wing, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and enhancing airflow efficiency toward the rear wing.
The final iteration utilized 10-inch diameter tyres, which alone lacked sufficient grip for cornering, leading to the adoption of four front wheels instead of two. This configuration increased overall braking surface but introduced additional complexity in steering and suspension systems. Steering was streamlined by connecting only the foremost pair of wheels directly to the steering wheel, while the rear pair was linked via a bell crank mechanism. Joel Rosinsky later commended this setup for its smoothness and lack of feedback disturbances.
Revealed at Heathrow Hotel in September 1975 under a cover that concealed its unusual form, the P34 astonished onlookers upon unveiling. Its track debut occurred at Silverstone on 8 October 1975. After successful testing, Tyrrell produced two further units featuring an extended wheelbase for competition during the 1976 season.
1976
The longer-wheelbase version of the P34 made its competitive debut at the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix. Drivers Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler delivered commendable performances; while Depailler expressed enthusiasm for the car, Scheckter remained skeptical. The pinnacle achievement was a one-two finish at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix, with Scheckter becoming the sole driver to secure victory in a six-wheeled F1 car.
The vehicle performed best on smooth circuits characterized by lengthy straights and sweeping corners such as Anderstorp and Watkins Glen but encountered difficulties on rougher tracks like Brands Hatch and Nürburgring due to inconsistent traction from its small front tyres. Following the season, Scheckter departed Tyrrell, dismissing the six-wheeler as "a piece of junk."
1977
For 1977, Scheckter was replaced by Ronnie Peterson, and the P34 underwent redesigns aimed at enhancing aerodynamics and accommodating Peterson's stature. The resulting P34B was wider and heavier—exceeding the F1 minimum weight limit by approximately —which led to brake overheating and compromised cornering ability. Tyrrell attributed these shortcomings primarily to increased mass, whereas others blamed Goodyear’s failure to adequately develop suitable small front tyres. Adjustments late in the season widened the front suspension track but exposed more of the front tyres, negating much of the original aerodynamic benefit.
In November 1977, Tyrrell introduced a conventional four-wheeled car for their 1978 campaign, effectively ending development of their six-wheeled concept. The championship-winning chassis from Scheckter’s tenure was retained while remaining units were sold off.
Post F1
The P34 has found a resurgence in historic motorsport, largely due to Avon manufacturing bespoke 10-inch tyres specifically for Simon Bull’s chassis number 6. During the 1999 and 2000 seasons, the P34 took part in the FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix series, with Martin Stretton clinching the championship title in 2000. Chassis number 5 achieved similar success in 2008 under the guidance of Mauro Pane and is currently owned by Pierluigi Martini, who also possesses chassis number 2. Stretton additionally earned several pole positions and class victories at the Grand Prix Historique de Monaco. The P34 continues to be a standout attraction at prestigious events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Other six-wheeled Formula One cars
While the Tyrrell P34 remains the most renowned six-wheeled Formula One vehicle, other manufacturers including March Engineering, Williams, and Scuderia Ferrari explored six-wheeled designs featuring four wheels at the rear rather than the front. The Williams models FW07D and FW08B, along with the March 2-4-0, utilized tandem rear wheels aimed at minimizing aerodynamic drag by substituting larger rear wheels with smaller ones. The Ferrari 312T6 incorporated four rear wheels aligned on a single axle, reminiscent of Auto Union’s Type-D from the 1930s. Despite undergoing testing, none of these cars entered competitive racing. In 1983, the FIA prohibited vehicles with four driven wheels and subsequently restricted Formula One to a maximum of four wheels overall.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (Bold results denote pole positions; italicized results indicate fastest laps.)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Elf Team Tyrrell | P34 | Cosworth DFV V8 NA |
Template:Goodyear | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | USA | JPN | 71* | 3rd | ||
| Jody Scheckter | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | Ret | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | Ret | ||||||||||||
| Patrick Depailler | Ret | Ret | 3 | 2 | 2 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | 6 | 2 | Ret | 2 | |||||||||||
| Template:F1 | Elf Team Tyrrell | P34B | Cosworth DFV V8 NA |
Template:Goodyear | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | USA | CAN | JPN | 27 | 5th | |
| Ronnie Peterson | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 3 | Ret | 12 | Ret | 9 | 5 | Ret | 6 | "16" |
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| Patrick Depailler |
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* An additional thirteen points were earned using the Tyrrell 007.
In media
The Tyrrell P34 made an appearance in the animated series The Transformers, where it transformed into the Decepticon Stunticon called Drag Strip. Sporting a yellow and red paint scheme, the car was portrayed as still competing in races, despite the storyline being set during the mid-1980s.
This vehicle was also showcased in the debut episode of the 1993 anime Moldiver as well as the 2013 motion picture Rush. In Lupin the Third Part II, season 1, episode 11, Lupin is seen racing a variant of the P34. Furthermore, season 4 of Phineas and Ferb features a P34-inspired automobile in the episode "Live and Let Drive," which is driven by Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.
In George Harrison's 1976 track "It's What You Value" from the album Thirty Three & 1/3, the lyrics mention "someone's driving a six wheeler," commonly interpreted as an allusion to the Tyrrell P34. Harrison’s passion for motorsport fits this reference, especially considering that the car, piloted by Jody Scheckter, secured victory at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix, marking the only Formula One win by a six-wheeled vehicle.
Die-cast toys and model kits
Various manufacturers have created scale replicas of the P34, including:
• 1/64 scale die-cast versions produced by Mini GT, Kyosho, and Hot Wheels.
• A 1/43 scale model offered by Minichamps.
• Larger model kits at 1/20 and 1/12 scales from Tamiya, which also provides a 1/10 scale remote-controlled version.