Page 1 of 1 In 1969, John Surtees established TS Research & Developments ltd. to continue production of the F5000 car he had created together with Len Terry for an aborted project. Known as the TS5, the Terry designed, Chevrolet engined machine proved immediately successful. After developing an evolution of the TS5 for the 1970 season, Surtees set his sights on Formula 1 and set about creating the all-new TS7.
While Surtees himself penned the car's general lines, the detailed design was the work of Peter Connew and Shabab Ahmed. With its unusually angular monocoque chassis, the TS7 was clearly not a development of the earlier TS5. Using a fully stressed Cosworth DFV and Hewland DG 300 gearbox, the rest of the car was wholly conventional. Finished in Team Surtees' familiar red and white livery, the TS7 sported an arrow-shaped nose and rear wing mounted on top of the gearbox.
Surtees was forced to start the Formula 1 season with a customer McLaren, while the first TS7 was under construction. It was ready in time for the British Grand Prix where Surtees qualified 19th but gradually worked his way up the field until he was forced to retire with an oil pressure issue. During the next few races, more bugs needed curing before Surtees managed to score his first victory in a car bearing his own name, at the non-Championship Gold Cup at Oulton Park.
The maiden victory was quickly followed by the fledgling manufacturer's first World Championship point when Surtees placed fifth in the Canadian Grand Prix. For the American Grand Prix, a second car was entered for a young Derek Bell, who promptly finished sixth. For the next season, Team Surtees replaced the TS7 with the new TS9, which was an evolution of the team's first F1 car. The pair of TS7s were used in the opening rounds but with little success.
Eventually Team Surtees built just two TS7s, although a F5000 was also developed but no customers were found. With a victory and two points finishes, the TS7 certainly was not a bad first try for a new manufacturer. Page 1 of 1
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In 1969, John Surtees established TS Research & Developments ltd. to continue production of the F5000 car he had created together with Len Terry for an aborted project. Known as the TS5, the Terry designed, Chevrolet engined machine proved immediately successful. After developing an evolution of the TS5 for the 1970 season, Surtees set his sights on Formula 1 and set about creating the all-new TS7.