LONDON -- Tyrrell Racing signed an engine agreement with Renault Friday to become the last team in Formula One to use a turbo-powered motor.
Under the agreement, Renault will furnish Tyrrell with the same turbo engines used by the factory Renault team for the 1985-86 Grand Prix season, which begins April 7 in Rio de Janiero.
Team officials said Friday they will begin testing the Renault 014 power units in late April.
The agreement gives Tyrrell the chance of becoming competitive after struggling through several seasons with conventionally powered Ford engines in the face of turbocharged competition.
The team has been battling recently in French courts with the International Automobile Federation (FISA) after it was stripped of the 13 points it earned last season.
FISA said the team violated Formula One engineering rules by putting ball bearings in it fuel tanks at last seaosn's Detroit Grand Prix in order to meet minimum weight requirements.
Tyrrell owner Ken Tyrrell said the loss of points cost the team $500,000 in bonus money.
