The Italian, now 57, introduced the well-known six-wheeler he now owns to this yr’s version of the Historic Minardi Day at Imola. Pierluigi considers the automobile ‘a mechanical jewel’ in F1’s historical past.
He has made a whole renovation of the 1977 machine, and after placing in hours of onerous work, he even went to Australia to search out some particulars to make it good.
Ronnie Peterson with the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: David Phipps
Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: PhotoCiabatti
Ronnie Peterson, Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: David Phipps
“The automobile is authentic in all issues” Martini says, clearly happy with his job. “The steering wheel is the one which Ronnie used. It has a notch on the spoke which you could see within the pictures of that interval.
“I used to be capable of recuperate the seat of Patrick Depailler, Peterson’s teammate. I couldn’t have pushed the ‘six-wheeler’ with Ronnie’s seat, due to the distinction of our top.”
Pierluigi Martini, Brabham BMW
Photograph by: JEP / LAT Photos
Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: Franco Nugnes
Martini is actually in love with the Tyrrell P34, which was renovated in response to the precise specification of the 1977 Japanese GP – the last-ever race for the automobile designed by Derek Gardner and modified by Maurice Philippe.
The six-wheeler received the 1976 Swedish GP with Jody Scheckter, and over its 30 races took one pole place, three quickest laps, 14 podiums and 100 factors. Gardner had satisfied Ken Tyrrell to permit him to create a automobile with 4 smaller entrance tyres, being optimistic that the automobile would have had much less drag, because the entrance wing coated the air resistence of the entrance tyres.
The entrance wheels of Pierluigi Martini’s Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: Franco Nugnes
The automobile, which featured the normal Ford-Cosworth DFV engine of the time, displayed nice agility within the corners, however was tough to manage beneath braking and suffered some cooling engine issues. To resolve the latter problem, the Tyrrell technicians moved the 2 radiators to the entrance of the chassis.
“I feel it’s a tremendous automobile,” says Martini. “In 1977, Philippe determined to enlarge the wheel observe increasingly more, as a result of Goodyear didn’t develop the 10-inch entrance tyres. So there have been some stability issues within the entrance.
“Avon, that these days creates tyres for historic F1 racing, produced some wonderful entrance tyres, so I got here again to Gardner’s tighter wheel observe, and I discovered a stunning stability that makes this F1 automobile so good to drive. I’m positive that if Tyrrell had had the potential of utilizing appropriate tyres, it could have received the title.
“The renovation of the automobile has been tough, as a result of in 1977 they modified the automobile, so I solely had the drawings [of the previous spec], so it was tough for me to search out some issues. Fortunately I might speak with the draftsman of the Tyrrell, who clarified a few of my doubts.”
Ronnie Peterson, Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: David Phipps
Race winner Keke Rosberg, Williams, second place René Arnoux, Ferrari, third place Elio de Angelis, Lotus
Photograph by: Williams F1
Minardi M189
Photograph by: PhotoCiabatti
Based on Martini, the vehicles of the 70s have been far simpler to drive than these he drove within the 1980s and ’90s: “I made some laps in Imola [in the Tyrrell] with none bodily exertion. Now I perceive why some drivers smoked 40 cigarettes a day they usually have been aggressive!
“The ‘six-wheeler’ is docile; you place the wheels precisely once you need and there aren’t unusual reactions. The extra energy you give, the extra energy it asks for.”
Martini says this automobile is particular not just for its distinctive six-wheeled structure, however for the very fact it raced simply earlier than the ground-effect and turbo eras that modified every thing.
He provides: “In fact, not just for the turbo – that was consultant of the following decade – within the 80s every thing modified due to the bottom impact and the predominance of aerodynamics. Automobiles turned extra demanding. So, for me the P34 is an actual jewel as a result of it represents a novel time.”
Ronnie Peterson, Tyrrell P34-Ford
Photograph by: LAT Photos
Steering wheel Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: Franco Nugnes
Tyrrell P34
Photograph by: Franco Nugnes
The six wheeled Tyrrell P34-Ford chassis within the paddock
Photograph by: LAT Photos
Martini says he’s now torn over driving his automobile competitively, like within the Monaco Historic Grand Prix.
“I even requested if I might make a replica of the automobile, however the rules of the race in Monaco admits solely authentic vehicles, so I let it go,” he rues. “I don’t wish to damage all of the onerous work I did to renovate the P34 with a view to do a single race!”
Ronnie Peterson, Tyrrell P34, within the Monaco GP
Photograph by: David Phipps
