JANUARY 26, 1998

Who drives for Tyrrell?

THE Tyrrell team unveiled its last Formula 1 car at the Bluebird Cafe in London last week but the team, which will close at the end of the 1998 season, was unable to name a driver to partner Japanese new boy Toranosuke Takagi. The 026 chassis, which is the work of Mike Gascoyne and his design engineers at Ockham is a fairly conventional car, although it features an interesting aerodynamic treatment at the front end of the top of the monocoque, where a small "valley" has been created by bodywork rising up to cover the suspension mounting points.

The major difference with the 025 is the new Ford V10 engine, which replaces the V8 used last season. This is an upgraded version of the troublesome chain-driven Zetec-R used last year by Stewart Grand Prix.

The car featured sponsorship from PIAA and YKK with new money having been found from the Brother electronics company and from the computer service firm Morse. Takagi also brings support from Mild Seven.

The identity of the other Tyrrell driver remains a mystery with several drivers offering good money for the seat, but the team management has apparently not decided as to whether or not to go for the dollars or to try to find a more competitive driver. Jos Verstappen remains a possibility but it seems more likely that BAT nominee Jean-Christophe Boullion will get the nod if money is not an issue. If the seat goes to the highest bidder it will be either Norberto Fontana, Tarso Marques or Ricardo Rosset who will drive the car.