1981 - 1983 - Toleman

Derek entered F1 with Toleman in 1981 - both driver and team graduating from F2 where Derek had driven for the team in 1980. Derek finally qualified for his first Grand Prix at Las Vegas late in the 1981 season with the Brian Hart turbo engined car. I recall Derek famously passing Didier Pironi's Ferrari into Paddock Hill at Brands Hatch in 1982 but very little other than that... At this point in time, F1 had not really caught my eye other than the British Grand Prix in which any British driver doing well would be cheered, even John Watson! However, from that race onwards, Derek confirmed that he was a real talent. Although the Rory Byrne (yes, the same Rory Byrne, whose designs for Benetton and Ferrari have rewritten the history books in the mid 90s onwards!) designed TG181 had been christened "the flying pig" by the F1 paddock, Derek and the team had persevered and his performance at Brands Hatch attracted attention from both the Renault and Ferrari teams! After Didier Pironi's career ending accident at Hockenheim that season, Ferrari were very interested in signing Derek to finish the season, however, such was the commitment to the Toleman cause that Derek was "sort of hoping I wouldn't get the Ferrari drive". I am sure such loyalty would not happen in F1 today...

Derek's faith in the team was vindicated as he scored his and Toleman's first F1 points finish at Zandvoort in 1983 (see gallery) and ended up with 9 points in '83 following successive finishes in the last 4 races. His performances through 1983 meant that he was again attracting attention from the bigger teams, with overtures from the Renault and Ferrari teams...

Gallery