Surtees

British Formula One team

John Surtees Builds His Own

Champion on two wheels and four, John Surtees ran his own Formula One constructor for nine seasons and reached the podium twice.

John Surtees, a motorcycle world champion and the 1964 Formula One champion, formed his team for the Can Am series, which he won, and then built Formula 5000 cars. After a hard season with BRM he turned owner and driver again, and his Surtees Racing Organisation, based in Edenbridge, Kent, began racing its own Formula One car in 1970.

Surtees cars started 118 Grands Prix from 1970 to 1978. Mike Hailwood, another motorcycle champion, finished second at the 1972 Italian Grand Prix, and Carlos Pace was third in Austria in 1973. Alan Jones, John Watson, Jochen Mass and Vittorio Brambilla were among its other drivers. Money was always tight, and when it ran out the team left Formula One after the 1978 season, despite having built a car for 1979.

Drivers

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