This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(December 2009) |
In motorsport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by an automobile or motorcycle manufacturer. Privateers teams are often found competing in rally, circuit racing and motorcycle racing events and often include competitors who build and maintain their own vehicles and motorcycles. In previous Formula One seasons, privately owned teams would race using the chassis of another team or constructor in preference to building their own car; the Concorde Agreement now effectively prohibits this practice. Increasingly, the term is being used in a Formula One context to refer to teams that are not at least part-owned by large corporations. Many privateer entrants compete for the enjoyment of the sport, and are not paid to be racing drivers.
From the inaugural 1950 season until the 1981 season, several privateer teams entered cars at Formula One Grands Prix. Some of them—such as Tyrrell and Williams—later began to build their own cars and thus became constructors , as well as works teams . During the 1950 season cars were entered by 30 teams; 4 works teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, and Talbot-Lago) and 26 privateer teams. However, the number of privateer teams decreased over the years (e.g. a Ferrari car was entered by a privateer team last time at the 1966 Italian Grand Prix) and at the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix Equipe Banco Occidental became the last privateer team to enter Formula One, using a Williams car. [1] Privateer entries have been prohibited in Formula One since 1981 under the first Concorde Agreement.
Across 32 seasons, only three privateer teams achieved 20 victories in total: Matra International/Tyrrell Racing won 10 races, Rob Walker Racing Team won 9 races and FISA won one race. The first win was achieved by Walker at the 1958 Argentine Grand Prix, and the last win was achieved by Tyrrell at the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix.
Key: (Bold) Driver won the World Drivers' Championship; (Italics) Constructor won the World Constructors' Championship
Across 32 seasons, only one privateer team contributed to a Formula One World Championship: Matra International in 1969. The team—since 1970 known as Tyrrell Racing Organisation—helped both constructor Matra win the World Constructors' Championship (with the MS80), and driver Jackie Stewart win his maiden World Drivers' Championship.