The new Tyrrell boys
After François Cevert’s tragic death and the retirement of Jackie Stewart at the end of 1973, Ken Tyrrell chose South African Jody Scheckter and Frenchman Patrick Depailler (picture above), both young drivers with huge potential, as his pairing for the 1974 season and onwards. They spent a total of three seasons together at Team Tyrrell.
Scheckter was the better one in 1974 with two victories in Sweden (in front of Depailler, second) and in Great-Britain, scored four podiums and finished an excellent third in the championship standings. Depailler was ninth with one podium only.
In 1975, Jody had the immense satisfaction of winning his home race, the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, scored two more podiums but was disappointed with seventh in the standings. Patrick finished ninth again, with two podiums.
For 1976, Tyrrell head designer Derek Gardner came up with the idea of having a six wheeled car, with four smaller wheels at the front, in order to improve top-line speed and stability. Depailler loved the concept named P34 and threw all his energy in developing it, while Scheckter was sceptical.
The six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 confounded the sceptics by winning in Sweden, Scheckter in front of Depailler (again) in a great 1-2 for Ken Tyrrell, and being competitive all season with a total of 12 podium finishes for the two drivers. Jody finished third in the standing and Patrick, fourth (picture below at Jarama). A very good season, no doubt about it.