Six wheels around Monaco

The Tyrrell P34, this revolutionary Formula One six-wheeler designed by Derek Gardner, was first ran at the Spanish GP in 1976, and proved quite competitive in the capable hands of Patrick Depailler and Jody Scheckter.

Interestingly, while Depailler (picture above) praised the car concept and potential continually, Scheckter was unimpressed. When leaving Tyrrell at the end of the year, the outspoken South-African, who had nevertheless won the Swedish Grand Prix in the P34,  said the six-wheeler was “a piece of junk.”

The P34 seemed to be particularly good down the straights and through long corners, like at Anderstorp where it won (Scheckter in front of Depailler), but also at Watkins Glen, Mosport or Fuji.

The six-wheeler, seen here below with Depailler at the wheel, was nevertheless competitive around the sinuous streets of Monaco. Both cars qualified in the top five, and Scheckter and Depailler finished 2nd and 3rd in the race, behind Lauda’s Ferrari.