Ferguson Research Ltd. was a British company belonging to Sir Harry Ferguson and mostly known as a racing cars constructor and a 4WD transmission systems supplier.

In 1960 Sir Harry Ferguson the famous tractor designer and industrialist allowed Ferguson Research Ltd. to build a Coventry-Climax powered 4WD Formula One car. Despite the death of Harry Ferguson in 1960, the Ferguson P99 was raced during 1961 season in UK F1 races by Rob Walker 's team. The car raced only once the World Championship at the British Grand Prix. However the car won a non-championship race the Gold Cup at Oulton Park with Stirling Moss as driver. As of today this is the one and only victory of 4WD car in F1 (and incidently the last race won by Moss in Europe), and it might stay so for long as 4WD is now banned in F1. Despite its promising beginings this front-engined car was soon obsoleted by mid-engined cars.

The Ferguson Research Ltd. went on in racing supplying the Novi -powered P104 to the STP team for Indianapolis.

Ferguson would later supply 4WD transmissions to various F1 teams. BRM used the Ferguson 4WD system on the P67 in 1964.

In 1969 there was 4WD boom in F1 with the top teams of the era Matra, Lotus and Mc Laren building 4WD cars using the Ferguson system (Cosworth built also a 4WD car but used is own system). The 1968 seasons had seen many wet races and the constructors were searching means to increase the grip of the cars. The 1969 British GP, saw a record number of four 4WD cars using the Ferguson system entered.

1969 also saw the introduction of wings in F1 and there was no wet race that year. All the competitors ceased develloping 4WD F1 cars as wings appeared as an easier way to increase grip, with the exception of Lotus that made a last attempt with the Ferguson system on the gas turbine powered 56B in 1971.

Complete Formula One results

(Note: grands prix in bold denote points scoring races.)

See also

• Massey-Ferguson
• Ferguson Company