The CSI introduced new rules regarding engine capacity for the 1972 European Championship for Formula 2 season. The maximum displacement was increased to 2-liters. After deciding that F5000 wasn’t worth the effort, John Surtees created the TS10 for the 1972 European Championship for Formula 2 cars.

The monocoque was the familiar square-sided design that Surtees had used on its Formula 1 cars. Bucking the trend of hip-mounted radiators used by the other manufactures, the TS10 had its water radiator mounted in a full-width nose. The car was also the only F2 entry to use the Hewland FG400 gearbox. All other cars used the Hewland FT200. Surtees elected to use engines developed by Brian Hart.

The Ford BDA engine was used as the base for the new power plants. Unfortunately Cosworth didn’t design the BDA to be a 2-liter motor and the teams would suffer from poor engine reliability throughout the 1972 season. Brian Hart was the only engine tuner to obtain any degree of reliability. The works-run cars used Hart’s 1850cc 420R engines. By not taking full advantage of the rules and keeping the capacity down increased the engine’s reliability. The HART engine was bolted to the rear bulkhead of the chassis and fitted between tubular sub-frames.

The cars were built to a high standard, although they were a challenge for the mechanics to work on. The primary difficulty being the rear-end. Early in the season the tubular engine bays would crack and the engine would flex. Once the problem was resolved the cars were reliable.

The factory would run two cars with Mike Hailwood being the primary driver. Early in the year Surtees handled the second car. Brazilian Carlos Pace took over later in the season. TS10 were also sold to the private teams of Andrea de Adamich and Carlos Ruesch.

Andrea de Adamich’s TS10

John Surtees attended most race meetings either as a driver or team manager. Peter Briggs assisted Surtees with the running of the team. Briggs’s previous F2 experience was with the 1971 championship winning March and the Winkleman teams.

John Surtees (Left) with Customer Andrea de Adamich

Surtees introduced sponsor Matchbox toys to the sport. Matchbox would sponsor the Formula 2 team for two seasons. They were enthusiastic sponsors, in addition to direct team support; they would frequently purchase advertisements in race programs and the specialty press.

The Formula 2 regulations only allowed six F1 graded drivers to enter Championship races. For a team to receive guaranteed appearance money it was necessary to have a graded driver on the team. Surtees solution was to have Mike Hailwood as the non-graded driver and Surtees as the graded one.

Hailwood drove well throughout the year and Surtees ended the year as the series champions. He would win the Mantorp Park and Salzburgring races outright and was the first non-graded finisher at Rouen, Osterreichring and the season ending Hockenheimring event. Hailwood ended the year with 55 points.

Mike Hailwood leading Wilson Fittipladi and Ronnie Peterson

Carlos Pace 

Championship Winning TS10 on Display at the 1973 International Racing Car Show, London

The TS15 was introduced in late 1972 and Hailwood drove it to victory in the non-championship Interlagos races in November. The car had a new, but essentially was a development of the championship winning TS10. The team continued to use Brian Hart engines. In addition to the factory team, the TS15 was sold to private teams for the 1973 season. German driver Jochen Mass was the team leader with Derek Bell occupying the second seat.

Matchbox Advertisement for 1973 Season

March had done a deal with BMW for the exclusive use of its new 2-liter engine. March–BMW driver Jean-Pierre Jarier ran away with the series and the best Mass could salvage was second place. He finished the season with 41 points including victories at Kinnekulle and the July Hockenheim race.

1973 Surtees TS15

Jochen Mass

Derek Bell

1973 Jim Clark Memorial F2 – Hockenheimring
Jochen Mass Leading Jean-Pierre Beltoise

Derek Bell

1973 Jochen Rindt Trophy – Hockenheimring
Derek Bell

Customer Cars
Robert Salisbury

Silvio Moser

1974 would see a repeat of the March-BMW dominance in Formula 2. Surtees had committed to building additional customer cars for the Marlboro-Ecuador team. This delayed the team’s build program and its was a last minute rush to get a 1973 version of the Hart powered TS15 to Hockenheim in April for new driver, John Watson.

The 1973 car would be developed into the TS15A for 1974. Bang and Olufsen, the Danish hi-fi manufacture, became the name sponsor for both the Formula 1 and 2 teams. The season started with the single TS15 entry for Watson, but grew into a two-car team as the season progressed. Derek Bell, Tim Schemken and Jose Dolheim would also drive for the team. Watson scored a second place at the April Hockenheim event and other than another second place by Tim Schenken at the Nogaro non-championship event there was little success for the team.

TS15 – John Watson

1974 T15A

Driver Jose Dolheim

A second experimental car was developed using a factory BMW engine. Other features included a water radiator mounted below the rear wing. The car was tried and found to be in need of additional development. The team issued a statement that the car would reappear after satisfactory testing.

Experimental BMW Engine TS15A

Water Radiator Below Rear Wing

Driver Derek Bell

Marlboro-Ecuador Customer Car

With the Formula 1 team in crisis following the loss of the Bang and Olufsen sponsorship, the Formula 2 team was wound-up and Surtees was out of the series after three seasons.