Tyrrell puts its six-wheeler on the road in Spain

©TheCahierArchive

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©TheCahierArchive

On this day in 1976, Tyrrell's radical six-wheel Tyrrell P34 made its race debut at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama.

The brainchild of designer Derek Gardner, the revolutionary car was born out of the engineer's will to elevate Tyrrell above Grand Prix racing's very level playing field at the time.

Indeed, most teams were using the same Cosworth DFV-Hewland gearbox-Goodyear tyres combo. So a bit of thinking 'outside of the box' was required.

And 'outside' Gardner undeniably went, with the radical car showing massive potential in testing - very secret testing, by the way - and winning on only its fourth outing!

Unfortunately, almost non-existent development by Goodyear of the P34's mini front-wheel tyres eventually put the innovative design at a dead end, where it would eventually succumb at the end of the 1977 season.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.