British Formula Atlantic 1971
Although there was no lack of cars or engines, Formula Atlantic started slowly due to uncertainty over whether the new formula could succeed between F2 and F3. Formula Ford and F3 cars supplemented the grid at the first race and most of the cars this season were converted F2, F3 or even Formula Ford cars.
Yellow Pages sponsored the inaugural season and the championship became a battle between Vern Schuppan in the works Palliser and Cyd Williams in Graham Eden's Chevron B18C. Schuppan put together a string of first and second places and almost had the title in his pocket by September. Williams then won three on the trot but was too late the catch the Australian. Clive Santo and John Gillmeister also ran Pallisers but achieved little; with sales dwindling despite Schuppan's title victory, Palliser Racing Design folded early in 1972.
Brabhams were predictably the most numerous on the Atlantic grids and would have won any constructors title from Palliser, Chevron, March, Lotus and Royale by sheer weight of numbers.
The races
07 Mar 1971 > Brands Hatch
21 Mar 1971 > Oulton Park
28 Mar 1971 > Mallory Park
12 Apr 1971 > ARCO Trophy at Castle Combe
02 May 1971 > Brands Hatch
30 May 1971 > Brands Hatch
31 May 1971 > Snetterton
20 Jun 1971 > Brands Hatch
27 Jun 1971 > Snetterton
03 Jul 1971 > Oulton Park
04 Jul 1971 > Brands Hatch
24 Jul 1971 > Castle Combe
01 Aug 1971 > Snetterton
15 Aug 1971 > Mallory Park
28 Aug 1971 > Oulton Park
30 Aug 1971 > Castle Combe
12 Sep 1971 > Brands Hatch
18 Sep 1971 > Oulton Park
03 Oct 1971 > Silverstone
09 Oct 1971 > Castle Combe
10 Oct 1971 > Snetterton
24 Oct 1971 > Mallory Park
31 Oct 1971 > Brands Hatch
27 Dec 1971 > Yellow Pages Trophy Race at Brands Hatch
Championship events shown in bold
Yellow Pages Championship table
| 1. | Vern Schuppan | Palliser WDB3 and WDB4 | 100 pts | 5 wins |
| 2. | Cyd Williams | Royale RP8 and Chevron B18C | 95 pts | 8 wins |
| 3. | Tom Belsø | Brabham BT28 | 47 pts | 3 wins |
| 4. | Ray Allen | Royale RP8 | 42 pts | 3 wins |
| 5. | Norman Cuthbert | Brabham BT29 | 36 pts |
The other races were won by Bill Gubelmann (March 71BM), David Morgan (March 702) and Peter Wardle (Lotus 69). Two non-championship races are also included above, won by Nick Craw (Brabham BT35) and John Nicholson (March 702).
Points table constructed from race results.
