Wrong time to join Tyrrell

After shining in Formula 2 and in sports cars with Porsche, Stefan Bellof (picture-above) was signed by Ken Tyrrell for the 1984 Formula One season to partner Martin Brundle. The promising pairing used naturally aspirated Ford-engined machinery though, which were giving away in excess of 200 horsepower to their turbo rivals.

The German ace scored his first two championship points in successive races at Zolder and Imola. A retirement followed at Dijon, before Bellof achieved a podium finish in the rain-shortened Monaco Grand Prix. Bellof’s performance that day was nothing short than scintillating as from 20th on the grid, he was catching the race-leading pairing of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna when the race was curtailed, due to inclement weather conditions.

However, Team Tyrrell and its drivers were stripped of all their championship points, after their cars were disqualified from the 1984 season over lead ballast in their fuel tanks found after the Detroit Grand Prix. FISA charged the team on four separate counts, but the team appealed to allow them to finish the championship. Ultimately, the FIA Court of appeal rejected their final appeal and kicked the team out of the remainder of the season. Not an ideal start for the promising Bellof, indeed.