Share

SA F1 champ to repeat history

SA’s F1 World Champion, Jody Scheckter will be reunited with the radical six-wheeler Tyrell Formula 1 car in August.

The East London-born 1979 World F1 champion will be reunited with the six-wheeled Tyrrell he drove for the first time nearly 40 years ago at the CarFest South at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire, August 23-25.

The Tyrrell team introduced the most revolutionary car ever seen in F1, the Tyrrell P34 in 1976. The drastic car featured four smaller conventional front wheels designed to give additional grip and downforce – a concept since outlawed by the F1 rule makers. Two cars were built for the team’s drivers Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler to race in the 1976 F1 World Championship.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Scheckter made history at the Swedish GP in 1976 at the Anderstorp circuit when he took pole position and then made history by becoming the only driver ever to win a GP in a six-wheeled car.  In 12 other races, he managed ten top six spots.

The former champion has been collecting many of the most significant cars from his racing career including the Ferrari 312T4 in which he won the 1979 F1 World Championship title. Recently he has added the Tyrrell P34 to his collection. He will drive it for the very first time when CarFest South returns to his own backyard at the Laverstoke Park Farm in August - the park is the organic/biodynamic farm he established in Hampshire.

Scheckter said: "It was a very special car, despite the fact that I was not a fan of the theory behind the design.

“The Tyrrell fascinates a lot of people – it is legendary. Although it did not perform as well as the engineers expected, I came third in the World Championships in that year, so it really was part of my journey to the top of F1.

“The last time I drove it was in 1976, so it will certainly bring back some wonderful memories when I drive it at CarFest."

The three-day event will be hosted by BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans and raising funds for BBC Children in Need.

For more information visit the Carfest website.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()