Tyrrell P34: The radical "six-wheeler" cult classic
Noob History into F1
Specifications
Car: Tyrrell-Ford P34
Constructor: Tyrrell England
Engine: V8 Ford-Cosworth DFV
Bore X Stroke: 85,7 x 64,8 mm
Capacity: 2,993 cc
Power: 475 bhp at 10.000 rpm
In September 1975, the P34 was introduced but didn’t actually start to race until the 1976 season. It was relatively successful, leading several other racing teams to start designing some six- wheeled race cars of their own. A number of drastic changes were made to the car’s overall design for the 1977 season. However, those changes only succeeded in making the car uncompetitive so the entire concept was discarded by Tyrrell for the 1978 Formula 1 season. Also, other teams stopped developing their six- wheeled cars. subsequently, Formula One rules included a reservation that all cars must only be four- wheelers. Since then, however, the existing six- wheeler frames have been achieving a modicum of success in a variety of ‘ classic ’ racing events and have become popular museum pieces.
Tyrrell P34 Design
This notorious car was the fruit of Tyrrell's principal designer Derek Gardner. It's most striking attribute of course was the use of four 10 inch wheels instead of the regular two. The front end layout was aimed to minimize induced drag by reducing lift at the front and to turn that boost into the ability to enter and leave corners faster. The use of four small disc brakes necessitated a special triple master cylinder system, each feeding the brakes on one of the three axles.
This was necessary as accommodations were needed to control locking at the four front wheels. However, then the effective wheelbase of the car was shortened and if the second set of front wheels locked first this resulted in the effective wheelbase being dragged, if the two frontal bus locked first. The size of the frontal tires put special stress on the cross ply tires Goodyear supplied. Had radial ply Michelin tires been available to the team the story might have been different. Unfortunately Goodyear's tire development program didn't have the capacity to duly support the special 10 inch tires used by the P34.
Tyrrell P34 Race history
During the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix, the extended variant of the P34 was first raced, ending up profoundly cutthroat. Nonetheless, the car's golden age didn't come along until the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix. Drivers, Patrick Depailler and Jody Scheckter finished out in first and second. To this date, Scheckter is as yet the only driver who dominated a race driving a six-wheeled racecar. Also, in spite of the fact that it ran well on the straights and through the long corners, it battled on rough circuits with variable grip. Thus, when the end of the season came along, Scheckter chose to leave the team and he insisted that the P34 was truly "a piece of junk".
Hence, in 1977, Ronnie Peterson replaced him, and the car was redesigned to offer a much cleaner aerodynamics. In addition, it had to be redesigned for accommodating his height. The new model, which was known as the P34B was both heavier and more extensive and, in spite of the fact that Peterson got some results that were fairly promising, the car was clearly not nearly as good as it was before. Tyrrell was pinning the car's concerns on expanded weight, which was then 86 kg more than the 575kg Formula One minimum. This was overburdening its brakes and furthermore brought on some issues in the corners. So, later that season, the team tried addressing the handling issue with an increase in the tracking of its front suspension, however, it moved the tires and basically eliminated the concept’s entire advantage.
Tyrrell continued to present a car with a more traditional design for the 1978 season in November 1977. He kept the P34 that Scheckter won in and sold the entirety of the rest.
Tyrrell P34 - Present Era
Fast forward to now and the P34 is a well known sight during numerous notable racing occasions, which became conceivable when the Avon tire company started manufacturing bespoke ten-inch tires for Simon Bull, who owned the P34 chassis number six.
Then, at that point, the revived P34 had the option to contend at various European hustling circuits in 1999 and 2000. It was driven by Martin Stretton, winning the TGP series in 2000. In 2008, its sister car rehashed that achievement, driven by Mauro Sheet. Presently, that car is included in a private Italian collection in Italy.