The Surtees Racing Organisation (in short: Team Surtees) was a racing team that was active in Formula 1, Formula 2, Can-AM, Formula A and Formula 5000 from 1966 to 1978. The most successful season was the 1972 season, when the team finished fifth in the Formula 1 constructors' championship. In that year, Gijs van Lennep became European champion in the Formula 5000 with a Surtees TS11-Chevrolet.

The team was founded in 1966 by John Surtees, who was already a four-time world champion in the 500cc road race, three-time world champion in the 350cc road race and world champion in Formula 1. Surtees had started racing in 1960 and had driven for Lotus, Cooper, Lola and Ferrari. With Ferrari he had become world champion in the 1964 season. In 1966, he entered the first Canadian American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) under the name "Team Surtees" with a Lola T70-Chevrolet, which he promptly won with three victories in six races. In 1968 he decided to take over the failed Leda F5000 to participate in the new Formula 5000 with his own car. With this Len Terry-designed Surtees TS5-Chevrolet, David Hobbs won five of the twelve races and finished second in the SCCA championship, behind John Cannon (Eagle-Chevrolet).

ts5

The Surtees TS5 was a racing car that was built and used by and for the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1969 and 1970. Development began in 1968.

They were equipped with 5-litre Ford V8 engines and in design Terry followed the lines of his earlier Lotus 38 with monocoque chassis and independent suspension. Four examples (the "Garner TS5s") were shipped to America in March 1969. There the engine was replaced by a 5-liter Chevrolet V8, which would later become the standard engine for Europe as well. The cars were tested on Riverside by Scooter Patrick and Dave Jordan. They complained about the handling of the car, but there were also constant problems with the suspension. James Garner then also decided to leave the project. He sent the cars back to England and ordered cars from Dan Gurney's AAR Eagle.

Now Surtees took over the project all for himself and the designation "TS" indeed became "Team Surtees". He left the cars as they were, with the Chevrolet engine, and hired David Hobbs, Andrea de Adamich and Trevor Taylor as drivers.

It inspired John Surtees to participate in Formula 1 with his own team and his own car. He had had some disappointing seasons with Honda and BRM. Because his new Surtees TS9, which was designed by Surtees, Shahab Ahmed and Peter Connew, was not ready in time, he had to start the 1970 season with an old McLaren M7C. It was only after six races that Surtees was able to deploy his TS9. The car scored its only points in the Canadian Grand Prix. Surtees-Ford finished 8th in the constructors' championship.

ts7

The Surtees TS7 was a Formula 1 race car that was built and used by and for the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1970 and sporadically also in 1971, when the successor TS9 was used more.

The Surtees TS7 debuted in the seventh Grand Prix, the British GP at Brands Hatch. The car had the same Ford Cosworth DFV-3 liter V8 as the McLaren and with it problems with the engine and gearbox. Surtees only scored points in the Canadian Grand Prix and finished his season in eighteenth place. Derek Bell finished sixth in the American Grand Prix with the Surtees TS7. Team Surtees ended the season in eighth place in the constructors' championship. 

ts9

The Surtees TS9 was a Formula 1 race car that was built and used by the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1971, 1972 and sporadically in 1973, when the successor Surtees TS14 was used more. An improved version of the Surtees TS9 was used as the Surtees TS9B from 1972.

Like its predecessor, the Surtees TS9 had an aluminum monocoque chassis. It was designed by John Surtees together with Peter Connew.

The engine was the widely used Ford Cosworth DFV-3 liter V8 with Hewland gearbox. In the 1971 season, two TS9s were used in Formula 1, that of John Surtees with sponsorship from tea producer Brooke Bond and that of Rolf Stommelen with sponsorship of the magazine Auto und Motor Sport.

ts14

The Surtees TS14 was a Formula 1 race car that was built and used by the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1972 and as Surtees TS14A in 1973. It was the first F1 car to comply with the crumple zone regulation and the last that John Surtees himself raced.

The Surtees TS14 was the first car that was developed entirely by John Surtees himself. It was the first Formula 1 car to meet the crumple zone guideline. The TS14 differed from the TS9(B) externally mainly because of the elongated, angular air intake above the engine. That engine was the widely used Ford-Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8, which Surtees had also used for years. In the 1972 season, Surtees riders Mike Hailwood, Tim Schenken and Andrea de Adamich still used the Surtees TS9B, but in the tenth Grand Prix, the Italian GP, Surtees himself raced the TS14 for the first time.

The updated Surtees TS14A debuted in 1973.

ts16

The Surtees TS16 was a Formula 1 race car that was built and used by the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1974 and 1975. The car was designed by team owner John Surtees. The car was not very successful. Only three World Championship points were scored in two seasons.

The first race of the 1974 season was the 1974 Argentine Grand Prix. Surtees entered two cars for Brazilian José Carlos Pace and German Jochen Mass but both drivers retired.

Surtees ended the season in 11th with three points but low on money for 1975, the team pared back to a single car for Englishman John Watson.

ts19

The Surtees TS19 was a Formula 1 race car that was built and used by the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1976 and 1977. The car was designed by team owner John Surtees and constructor Ken Sears.

After driver John Watson had remained winless in the 1975 season, John Surtees decided to enlist the help of recently graduated engineer Ken Sears for the design of the Surteen TS19. The TS19 therefore looked very different from the TS16, with air intakes in the front wing and sloping sides.

Surtees finished tenth in the constructors' championship of 1976.

At the beginning of the 1978 season, John Surtees and Ken Sears were still working on the new Surtees TS20. In the first part of the season, the TS19 was therefore still used.

Surtees ended the season in thirteenth place in the constructors' championship.

ts20

The Surtees TS20 was a Formula 1 race car that was built and used by the Surtees Racing Organisation in 1978. The car was designed by team owner John Surtees and constructor Ken Sears. The TS20 was only used in 1978 from the Spanish Grand Prix in June. 

Just like in the 1977 season, Surtees provided two teams with cars: its own factory team with sponsorship from condom manufacturer Durex and the customer team from tool manufacturer Beta. Both teams had to start the 1978 season with the old Surtees TS19, because the TS20 was not yet ready. No points were scored in those first four Grands Prix. Surtees ended the season thirteenth in the constructors' championship with just one point.

Surtees was developing a new car for the 1979 season. The TS20 was snowed under by the ground effect cars that were also needed for the new Surtees. However, the team could not raise the necessary money. The TS20 was used a few times in the British Aurora series (the former Formula 5000), but then Surtees ended its activities.