Surtees TS20


The Surtees TS20 was a Formula One car used by Surtees during the 1978 Formula One season. It was designed by John Surtees and Ken Sears.

Racing history

The team used the Surtees TS19 for the first four races before it was replaced by the TS20. Only one chassis was available for Italian Vittorio Brambilla. The TS20 made its debut at the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix but Brambilla failed to qualify. The Italian finished 13th in Belgium. For the Spanish Grand Prix, a second car became available for Englishman Rupert Keegan. Both men finished the race with Brambilla seventh and Keegan 11th. At Sweden, the Englishman failed to qualify and the Italian retired with an accident. The French Grand Prix saw Brambilla 17th and Keegan retire with engine failure. At Britain, the Englishman failed to qualify and the Italian finished ninth. The German Grand Prix saw Brambilla retire with fuel system failure and Keegan fail to qualify. At Austria, the Englishman failed to qualify and the Italian finished sixth. The Dutch Grand Prix saw Brambilla disqualified after a push at the start of the race and Keegan did not start after crashing in the Sunday warm-up and injuring his hand. Keegan was replaced by Italian driver Gimax for Italy who failed to qualify and Brambilla retired after he, James Hunt, Riccardo Patrese, Ronnie Peterson, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Patrick Depailler, Didier Pironi, Derek Daly, Clay Regazzoni and Brett Lunger were all involved in an accident before the first corner. Brambilla suffered serious head injuries when he was hit by a flying wheel during the multiple collision on the opening lap but survived. Brambilla was replaced by Italian Beppe Gabbiani and Gimax was replaced by Frenchman René Arnoux for the final two races. For the United States Grand Prix East Gabbiani failed to qualify and Arounx finished ninth. For the final round in Canada, the Italian failed to qualify and the Frenchman retired with engine failure. Unable to get sufficient money, the team left F1 after the 1978 season, despite having a car built for 1979. After racing the car in the British Aurora series briefly that year, Surtees Racing Organization was closed for good.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantEnginesTyresDrivers12345678910111213141516PointsWCC
Beta Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		ARGBRARSAUSWMONBELESPSWEFRAGBRGERAUTNEDITAUSACAN113th
Beta Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		Vittorio BrambillaDNQ137Ret179Ret6DSQRet113th
Beta Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		Beppe GabbianiDNQDNQ113th
Durex Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		Rupert Keegan11DNQRetDNQDNQDNQDNS113th
Durex Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		Brian HentonPO113th
Durex Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		GimaxDNQ113th
Durex Team SurteesFord Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8		René Arnoux9Ret113th