Tiga
Tiga
Founded
1974
Founders
Tim Schenken, Howden Ganley
Country
United Kingdom
Headquarters
England, United Kingdom
Tiga
Founded
1974
Founders
Tim Schenken, Howden Ganley
Country
United Kingdom
Headquarters
England, United Kingdom
About this brand
Discover the history
Tiga Race Cars was established in 1974 by two former Formula 1 drivers, Tim Schenken and Howden Ganley. The name “Tiga” was derived from the first two letters of their first names: Tim and Ganley. Initially, the brand focused on producing Formula Ford cars, which quickly earned a solid reputation for quality and performance. In its early years, Tiga supplied Formula Ford, Formula 3, and Sports 2000 cars to a growing number of customers, building a name in both junior formula racing and international sports car events. Tiga cars saw early successes in the British S2000 Championship, with notable drivers like Ian Taylor and James Weaver contributing to the company’s rise.
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Tiga expanded into building cars for various racing categories. They built competitive Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 cars but faced challenges with profitability. Despite these struggles, the brand stayed afloat due to consistent racing success in Sports 2000 and Formula Ford competitions. In 1981, Tiga ventured into Formula 3 but was less successful compared to dominant competitors like Ralt, which hindered their broader ambitions. Despite this, the brand sold over 400 cars worldwide across different categories.
In the early 1980s, Tiga entered endurance racing, including iconic events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their Group C2 car, the Tiga GC84, became a major success story in the mid-1980s, with consistent wins in its class. Drivers like Ray Bellm, Gordon Spice, and Neil Crang helped Tiga secure a strong presence in endurance racing, and the team claimed multiple class victories at circuits like Mugello, Monza, and Spa, culminating in the team winning the Group C2 World Championship in 1985. These accomplishments solidified Tiga’s reputation in endurance motorsport.
However, despite the brand’s strong racing pedigree, the business side of Tiga remained challenging. By the late 1980s, both Schenken and Ganley shifted their focus to other ventures, and the production of new Tiga race cars slowed significantly. The company eventually faded from prominence, though Tiga-built cars continued to compete in historic racing categories in later years. The Tiga brand still holds a legacy within motorsport, particularly for its contributions to endurance racing and its role in the development of drivers and engineers in lower formulae.
Tiga’s history reflects a mixture of racing ambition and financial struggles, common among many small, specialized motorsport manufacturers. Despite these challenges, Tiga’s cars left a lasting impact on the racing world, particularly in endurance racing and Sports 2000 categories, making the brand an integral part of motorsport history.
