Scheckter back in P34

…and changes his mind about Tyrrell’s six-wheeler

Jody Scheckter has been reunited with the car in which he became the only man to win a World Championship Grand Prix on six wheels.

The South African demonstrated the Tyrrell P34, which he has bought to add to his collection of cars he raced, at the CarFest South charity event held at Scheckter’s organic farm at Laverstoke Park, Hampshire in August. He had not driven the six-wheeler since 1976, the year in which he won the Swedish GP at Anderstorp.

“In those days there was a lot more freedom in Formula 1 design,” said the 1979 World Champion, who admitted that the inventive concept came as a shock to him. “I think everyone was surprised by the design – it was kept very secret, even from the drivers.

“Perhaps it wasn’t quite as a bad as I remember: after all, it did win a Grand Prix. It was very controllable and pretty good on street circuits, too, which means it was fairly well suited to racing up and down the Laverstoke farm drive.”

Paul Lawrence