The Leamington engineer who helped Jackie Stewart become Formula One champion

Derek Gardner, 79, died at his home in Lutterworth on Friday January 7.

His funeral took place at the Mid-Warwickshire Crematorium, in Oakley Wood, last week.

The mastermind behind some of the most successful cars of the 1970s, he became one of the most respected motor racing designers of his era. But it was at the Warwick Mop where, as a young boy, Mr Gardner laid the foundations for his future engineering prowess.

He adored the traction engines at the fair and he would spend much of his time climbing on the engines and speaking to exhibitors about the workings of the great machines.

Model aeroplanes were another passion for Mr Gardner and it was through this hobby that he learnt aerodynamics, which he later applied to his racing car designs.

Having completed his national service with the RAF and married his wife Margaret in 1958, Mr Gardner became a senior designer at Hobbs Transmission in Russell Terrace.

A top secret amphibious landing craft was one of his projects.

When Hobbs closed in 1960, Mr Gardner moved to Harry Ferguson Research in Coventry where he was instrumental in developing four-wheel drive.

The system was used in the P99 racing car and the Novi-Ferguson Indy 500 and Mr Gardner spent six weeks with Lotus working on the gas turbine car.

This introduction to racing cars led to Mr Gardner working with the French Company Matra and meeting Ken Tyrrell.

Tyrrell suggested they produce a racing car for the 1970-1971 season and Mr Gardner, so as not to upset anyone at Matra, designed the Tyrrell 001 at his home in Parklands Avenue, Lillington.

Later models were driven to World Championship victories by Stewart in 1971 and 1973 and the 006/2 was featured in a set of stamps to commemorate 100 years of UK motorsport in 2007.

Mr Gardner also designed the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34, considered to be one of the most radical Formula 1 cars ever made, which was driven by Jody Scheckter in his Swedish Grand Prix win.

Speaking to the Courier in 2007, Mr Gardner said: “Motor racing is a very exciting and a very frustrating business.

“It’s in my blood - cars, boats and aeroplanes are in my blood, but overall motor racing.”

Mr Gardner leaves his wife, daughters Helen and Rachel and grandchildren Luke, Kirsty and Ollie.