1985 Tyrrell Formula One
Chassis Number 12-7
REQUeST A printable PDF document with PhotosFourth Place — 1985 U.S. Grand Prix
Ninth Place — 1985 Constructors Championship
Cosworth 3 liter Ford V8 (Short Stroke)
Lucas Fuel Injection
540 HP @ 11,500 RPM
Tyrrell Purpose built 5-speed transaxle
AP disc brakes
Honeycomb Aluminum/carbon fiber tubThe 1985 Formula One season was notable on several counts, not only for the Tyrrell Racing Organization but also for the history of F1 itself. It saw young German star Stefan Bellof confirm his talent as what Ken Tyrrell recalled as “…Germany’s first ever World Champion driver — had he only lived”. The season also marked the end of the naturally aspirated 3-liter Cosworth Ford V8 era with all teams moving to turbocharged engines by seasons end.
The Tyrrell 012-series cars were designed by Maurice Phippippe and Brian Lisles, making their debut in the 1983 season. This particular chassis was built new for the 1985 season and would be the last successful Cosworth powered car to compete in Formula One.
For the first race of that season, Tyrrell’s drivers were Martin Brundle and Stefan Johansson. At the first race in Brazil Johansson finished seventh overall. Johansson moved to the Ferrari team and was replaced by Stefan Bellof.
The next race was held in Estoril where Bellof drove a spectacular race in the rain to finish sixth overall and the first non-turbo car.
After struggling in the next few races against the turbocharged cars, Bellof was successful at Detroit, showing the car’s agility and his startling reflexes by bringing the car home in fourth place – despite a broken clutch. He raced the car in two more Grand Prix finishing 13th in France and 11th in England. The team switched to the new Tyrrell 014 Renault Turbo powered cars for the remainder of the season. Unfortunately Bellof would not see the end of the season. He died in the World Endurance Championship race at Spa driving a Porsche 962.
This very important F1 car has undergone a 3,000-hour cosmetic and mechanical restoration at Canepa Design.
Race Results
Brazil —Johansson — 7th
Portugal — Bellof — 6th
Imola — Bellof — 23rd
Monaco — Bellof — DNS
Canada — Bellof — 11th
Detroit — Bellof — 4th
France — Bellof — 13th
British — Bellof — 11th
Stefan Bellof was famous for setting the fastest lap ever at the Nürburgring in a Porsche 956 in 1983. He was also the Driver’s Champion for the World Sportscar Championship in 1984 driving for the factory Rothmans Porsche team and also competed with the Tyrrell Formula One team in both the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
Tyrrell Racing Organisation was founded by Ken Tyrrell in 1958 and started building their own F1 cars in 1970. The team experienced its greatest success in the early 1970s, when it won three Formula One drivers' championships and one constructors' championship with Jackie Stewart. The team continued to win races through the 1980s, taking the final win for the Ford Cosworth DFV engine at Detroit in 1983.
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