Tyrrell 006
Encyclopedia
The Tyrrell 006 was a Formula One
car designed and built by the Tyrrell Racing Organisation
. It was introduced towards the end of . In the hands of Jackie Stewart
it won the Drivers' Championship for the 1973 Formula One season
, Stewart's third and final title. The car was first raced at the 1972 Canadian Grand Prix
with Stewart's team-mate and protégé François Cevert
at the wheel. The 006 was a very slightly reworked version of the preceding Tyrrell 005 car, but in contrast it was the first Tyrrell-built chassis to be replicated, the number 006 becoming a model- rather than chassis-number; previous Tyrrells were one-off constructions. In total there were three Tyrrell 006 models built: 006; 006/2; and 006/3. The 006 model was gradually phased out in the early part of the 1974 Formula One season
as Tyrrell constructed the succeeding Tyrrell 007.
006 was built for Cevert to replace damaged chassis, while the existing 005 was retained by Stewart for the final races of 1972. Stewart continued to use 005 for the first two races of 1973 while 006/2 was in construction and took 006 to the model's first win, at the 1973 South African Grand Prix
. On the completion of 006/2, 005 was reduced to testing duties and was often seen in practice sessions adorned with experimental and copy-cat parts. The drivers retained their respective chassis for the majority of the remaining 1973 races, Stewart scoring five victories on his way to the Drivers' Championship title. Cevert also took several podium
finishes, but the season was closely fought and Tyrrell (82 points) were beaten to the Constructors' title by Lotus
(92pts). Cevert damaged 006 in a collision during the Canadian Grand Prix, and a new chassis, 006/3 was built up for his use in the following race. It was in 006/3s only ever appearance that Cevert was fatally injured, when he crashed during practice for the final race of the season: the 1973 United States Grand Prix
. After Cevert's accident a devastated Stewart drove 006/2 around the Watkins Glen
circuit once more, in an attempt to understand what had happened to Cevert, parked the car and then walked away from Formula One. In his later years, Stewart praised the car, calling it "a beautifully balanced racing car, it was faster than any other car in the field, even faster, I think, than the John Player Special that Emerson (Fittipaldi) and Ronnie (Peterson) had."
Survivor 006/2 was used for the early races of the 1974 Formula One season
. Jody Scheckter
drove it in Argentina
, Brazil
and South Africa
and Patrick Depailler
used 006/2 as a fall-back after qualifying breakdowns in Spain
, Monaco
and France
. After France, Tyrrell retired the 006 model in favour of the newer 007.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
car designed and built by the Tyrrell Racing Organisation
Tyrrell Racing
The Tyrrell Racing Organisation was an auto racing team and Formula One constructor founded by Ken Tyrrell which started racing in 1958 and started building its own cars in 1970. The team experienced its greatest success in the early 1970s, when it won three drivers' championships and one...
. It was introduced towards the end of . In the hands of Jackie Stewart
Jackie Stewart
Sir John Young Stewart, OBE , better known as Jackie Stewart, and nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, is a Scottish former racing driver and team owner. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships. He also competed in Can-Am...
it won the Drivers' Championship for the 1973 Formula One season
1973 Formula One season
The 1973 Formula One season included the 24th FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on January 28, 1973, and ended on October 7 after fifteen races.-Season summary:...
, Stewart's third and final title. The car was first raced at the 1972 Canadian Grand Prix
1972 Canadian Grand Prix
The 1972 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Mosport Park on September 24, 1972.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings...
with Stewart's team-mate and protégé François Cevert
François Cevert
Albert François Cevert Goldenberg was a French racing driver who took part in the Formula One World Championship.-Family background:...
at the wheel. The 006 was a very slightly reworked version of the preceding Tyrrell 005 car, but in contrast it was the first Tyrrell-built chassis to be replicated, the number 006 becoming a model- rather than chassis-number; previous Tyrrells were one-off constructions. In total there were three Tyrrell 006 models built: 006; 006/2; and 006/3. The 006 model was gradually phased out in the early part of the 1974 Formula One season
1974 Formula One season
The 1974 Formula One season was the 25th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1974 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1974 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, contested concurrently over a fifteen race series which commenced on 13 January and ended on 6 October...
as Tyrrell constructed the succeeding Tyrrell 007.
1973 South African Grand Prix
The 1973 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Kyalami on March 3, 1973. The race was won by Jackie Stewart driving a Tyrrell...
. On the completion of 006/2, 005 was reduced to testing duties and was often seen in practice sessions adorned with experimental and copy-cat parts. The drivers retained their respective chassis for the majority of the remaining 1973 races, Stewart scoring five victories on his way to the Drivers' Championship title. Cevert also took several podium
Podium
A podium is a platform that is used to raise something to a short distance above its surroundings. It derives from the Greek πόδι In architecture a building can rest on a large podium. Podia can also be used to raise people, for instance the conductor of an orchestra stands on a podium as do many...
finishes, but the season was closely fought and Tyrrell (82 points) were beaten to the Constructors' title by Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
(92pts). Cevert damaged 006 in a collision during the Canadian Grand Prix, and a new chassis, 006/3 was built up for his use in the following race. It was in 006/3s only ever appearance that Cevert was fatally injured, when he crashed during practice for the final race of the season: the 1973 United States Grand Prix
1973 United States Grand Prix
The 1973 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 7, 1973 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York.__FORCETOC__-Summary:...
. After Cevert's accident a devastated Stewart drove 006/2 around the Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
circuit once more, in an attempt to understand what had happened to Cevert, parked the car and then walked away from Formula One. In his later years, Stewart praised the car, calling it "a beautifully balanced racing car, it was faster than any other car in the field, even faster, I think, than the John Player Special that Emerson (Fittipaldi) and Ronnie (Peterson) had."
1974 Formula One season
The 1974 Formula One season was the 25th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1974 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1974 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, contested concurrently over a fifteen race series which commenced on 13 January and ended on 6 October...
. Jody Scheckter
Jody Scheckter
Jody David Scheckter is a South African former auto racing driver, the Formula One World Drivers Champion.-Career:Scheckter was born in East London, South Africa and educated at Selborne College.-Formula One:...
drove it in Argentina
1974 Argentine Grand Prix
The 1974 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One race held in Buenos Aires on January 13, 1974.-Start-of-season preliminaries:It had been one of the most frantic close seasons ever with only Ronnie Peterson, Denny Hulme, Carlos Reutemann and James Hunt remaining with their teams. Emerson Fittipaldi...
, Brazil
1974 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 1974 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Interlagos on January 27, 1974.- Race summary :Emerson Fittipaldi took pole position for his home race from Carlos Reutemann. The start of the race was delayed as the track had to be swept clear of broken glass from over-exuberant...
and South Africa
1974 South African Grand Prix
The 1974 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami on 30 March 1974.- Race summary :It was initially uncertain that the South African Grand Prix would go ahead due to the power crisis, but it did so, albeit belatedly in March...
and Patrick Depailler
Patrick Depailler
Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler was a racing driver from France. He participated in 95 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 2 July 1972. He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races.Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme. As a child, he...
used 006/2 as a fall-back after qualifying breakdowns in Spain
1974 Spanish Grand Prix
The 1974 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jarama on April 28, 1974.- Race summary :With James Hunt's Hesketh having won the International Trophy, the season was one of the most open ever, with four different drivers from different teams having won the first four races and a...
, Monaco
1974 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1974 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on May 26, 1974.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: Niki Lauda - 1:26.3*Fastest lap: Ronnie Peterson - 1:27.9 on lap 57-Standings after the race:...
and France
1974 French Grand Prix
The 1974 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Dijon on July 7, 1974.- Race summary :To honor the 80th birthday of the ACF, a parade of vintage cars was organized with a selection of great drivers from the 20s and 30s up to the present day. The race itself was largely uneventful...
. After France, Tyrrell retired the 006 model in favour of the newer 007.