John Delane secured the 2004 FIA TGP Class A Championship in Tyrrell 001 while bringing Tyrrell glory to the fore all over the world, from Bahrain and the Czech Republic to Monza Italy and the Goodwood Festival. John Dimmer also won races and hearts in North America. It was truly a dream season for Team Tyrrell.
It began with a blown motor for 001, but it wasn't all bad as the motor was blown in the final race on the Sunday meeting at Bahrain, during the TGP Support race of the Innaugural FIA Formula One race in the Middle East. Mr. Ecclestone was kind enough to circulate the historic garages and made a special trip to thank Mr. Delane for bringing Tyrrell 001. It continued to get better as Sir Jackie Stewart stopped on the grid to lambast Delane for his wheel-sawing shenanigans. The weekend was capped by (on seven cylinders, no less) catching the purported 190mph Tony Smith (Williams FW08C) down the front straight just before the oil pressure read zero. The unfortunate end to the weekend hardly downed the enthusiasm for what was a fascinating and wonderful race meet.
It could only get worse from there, but instead Team Tyrrell went to Monaco. In the first practice session, Tyrrells 001 and 006 (driven by sit-in Ryan Delane) were third and fourth quick in what was a daunting and incident-filled practice session. As the weekend progressed, they fell to fifth and sixth (still not bad for some of the oldest cars in the field!). Hard-charging (and eventual TGP Overall Champion) Gallego came through to take third, but incedents on track and consistent, quick driving (and innumerable thanks to Team Manager, Kenneth Tyrrell who almost jumped out of the St. Devote balcony rooting for his cars) saw the Tyrrells battling it out to the checkered for fourth and fifth. It is is of significant note that race-winner, Martin Stretton, was driving a 1977 Tyrrell P34! That makes three Tyrrells in the top five!
While 001 and 006 headed off to Pau for another fantastic weekend at a twisty little circuit in South (this time West) France, John Dimmer took 004 up to Thunderhill in California for a superb run, finishing 7th, dicing it up with much newer cars. 006 also came seventh at the Grand Prix Masters meeting in Pau, while minor mechanical difficulties kept 001 to 9th.
006's final European race meeting came at Monza, where after doing 183mph on the straight, it beat Tyrrell 001 to the line for ninth at another TGP meeting. At this point, Tyrrell 001 was solidly in the hunt for the Class A Championship. The cars were to go on to Silverstone for a Grand Prix Masters meet, but difficulties came up, keeping the drivers from making it to the race. In North America, John Dimmer made another great run at the Canadian Grand Prix, running 004 in a support race there. The Canadian fans were ecstatic, as ever, to see an early Tyrrell car, which was so dominant on its day. Then Dimmer took 004 across to Seattle, to the Pacific Northwest Historics, finishing 2nd, 1st, and 2nd in his races there.
In between, John Delane ran Tyrrell 006 up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He posted the quickest time for a historic car, bringing the Tyrrell name to the limelight again. In fact, he was the third quickest up the hill overall! On his final run, Sunday, Delane followed Emmerson Fitipaldi up the hill, who was driving his 1972 Championship-Winning Lotus 72. Emmerson later noted that he felt like it was 1972 all over again, with that "damned blue car" filling his mirrors just like old times. Of course, we avid Tyrrell fans remember 1973 better, with the black car following the blue one more often, but that's another story.
Back across the pond again for Tyrrell 004, 005 and 006 to meet up with their old Transporter again for the festivities at Monterey. John Dimmer put up spectacular drives both days at the Pre-Historic to take 004 to wins on both days! Both Delane and Edwards (in 005) were still finding there legs in their cars, so it was a good thing Dimmer had it together! John managed to put together another great race for the big day of the Historic, finishing 5th overall amongst much quicker cars. Delane could only post a 9th in 006 after a spin, and Edwards encountered mechanical difficulties that kept him to 17th, but it was fantastic to have the two cars together again!
Delane clinched the TGP Class A Championship for Tyrrell 001 at Brno, in the Czech Republic. The big finale for the Tyrrells came at the TGP Awards Banquet in November. Delane accepted his trophy from former World Champion Jody Scheckter (who found his feet in Formula One with Tyrrell). It is truly a feat to have the car, which never won a race in its day, up in the limelight again in historic racing. Delane was also invited to Monaco to accept his Championship Trophy alongside Michael Schumacher at the FIA Prizegiving.
All in all, it was a great year for the Tyrrells!
