The recent death of Tyrrell designer Derek Gardner brought back an 'I was there' moment. It was Silverstone 1976, on the GP circuit but not during the main F1 meeting. Either to test the car out, or just to give the spectators a bit of fun, Tyrrell Racing had brought along the Gardner–designed, six–wheeled P34.

With Jody Scheckter (I assume) at the wheel, the car simply flew round the sweeping Northamptonshire track. The 'windows' cut into the fairing not only helped the South African see the tiny front wheels, they also allowed the general public to witness top–class car control.

As public debuts go, it took some beating — we'd read about it, and seen it on TV, but never experienced the strangest contradiction of gigantic rear and miniscule front tyres.

This week, Porsche has revealed its own technological racing marvel, the 918 RSR Hybrid. Wow, this is going to be good. Wouldn't it be nice if they turned up with a car, and just gave it a run round a circuit, for the hell of it? I'd like to be there.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

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