TYRRELL 017 Ford-Cosworth DFZ

   After the successful 1987 season, crowned with the winning of the “Chapman” and “Clark” trophies, awarded respectively to the best team using naturally aspirated engines and to the best driver of such a car, Team Tyrrell approached 1988 with a renewed spirit, also due to the imminent arrival of engineer Harvey Postlethwaite. The British engineer joined the team mid-season and, from that point on, collaborated with Technical Director Maurice Philippe and designers Brian Lisles and Graham Heard to revise the Tyrrell 017 single-seater competing in the 1988 World Championship.

TYRRELL 017, Jonathan Palmer
Jacarepaguà, Brazilian GP 1988

   The chassis of the new 017 was completely redesigned and, for the first time in Tyrrell’s history, built with a carbon fiber monocoque. Apart from this innovation, the rest of the car was a straightforward evolution of the already solid DG016. It used the same double wishbone suspension system as the previous season, now in a pull-rod configuration. The dimensions remained unchanged, with a wheelbase of 2717 mm and a weight of 540 kg.

TYRRELL 017, Julian Bailey
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1988

   The car’s livery also changed completely this year: abandoning the “total white” look of 1986, introduced by main sponsor Data General, which for this season stepped back to being only a technical sponsor, the team adopted a new “all black” design, giving the car a sleeker and more streamlined appearance, with two small yellow inserts for Camel sponsorship. Once again, Tyrrell used the 3498 cc Ford DFZ V8, specially developed by Cosworth with a lowered cylinder head to slightly reduce the engine’s center of gravity, as requested by the Tyrrell designers.

 TYRRELL 017, Jonathan Palmer
Monza, Italian GP 1988

   Midway through the season, the 017 was slightly revised with the first interventions by Postlethwaite, focusing primarily on the rear suspension. The British technician converted the setup into a push-rod configuration, featuring exposed shock absorbers anchored at the base of the wheel hub, where a hydraulically operated lifter, controlled directly by the driver, simulated the functionality of an electronic active suspension system.

TYRRELL 017, Jonathan Palmer
Silverstone, British GP 1988

   For the 1988 World Championship, the Tyrrell Racing Organisation confirmed British driver Jonathan Palmer and paired him with debutant compatriot Julian Bailey. However, the team achieved significantly poorer results compared to the previous season, also due to the performance improvements of rival cars. Palmer was the only one to score points, five in total, all in the early races, while Bailey endured a difficult season with 10 failures to qualify and few finishes, all at the back of the field. Thanks to Palmer’s points, Tyrrell still managed to secure eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship, an ultimately disappointing result given the team’s expectations at the start of the year.