The Surtees TS20 for the 1978 Formula 1 season was essentially a development of the TS19 used in 1976-1977. The team had a very bad season, also due to the second choice Goodyear tires which did not fit the car properly. The starting drivers, Vittorio Brambilla and Rupert Keegan both had accidents that forced them to prolonged absences; René Arnoux also piloted the TS20, about to switch to Renault. The poor results convinced John Surtees to leave Formula 1, even though one last Surtees, the TS21, was already in the planning phase. The TS20s were reused until 1980 in races of the English Aurora series. Among the various cars there is an example converted into a wing car, driven by Ray Mallock.