British Formula Atlantic 1975

Ted Wentz in his original white Lola T360 HU7, later replaced by the black development T360.  Wentz won the Southern Organs title using these two cars.  Copyright Alan Cox 2009.  Used with permission.Two ill-fated drivers dominated the Atlantic headlines in 1975, Tony Brise and Gunnar Nilsson. Brise dominated the first three months of the season, winning eight of the nine races in the two championships and developing an unassailable lead in the John Player series. He joined the Hill GP team in May and was due to become team leader for 1976 before a plane crash brought his short career to a tragic end. Nilsson spent 1975 in Formula 3, winning the British title comfortably in his works March 753. He then moved to Atlantic late in the year and won the last five races of the season. Cancer would cut short his career after two seasons in F1 with Lotus.

Although Brise appeared to have run away with the John Player title, Jim Crawford kept finishing second and took a win at Mallory Park in August ensured that he was still within right up until his Chevron retired at the last race. A string of second places was good enought to win the Southern Organs title for Ted Wentz as neither Brise nor Nilsson competed in enough races.

The strong revival of Formula 3 during 1975 would have a significant impact on F/Atlantic which lost its sponsors at the end of the year.

The races

02 Mar 1975 > Brands Hatch

09 Mar 1975 > Mallory Park

16 Mar 1975 > Brands Hatch

29 Mar 1975 > Snetterton

13 Apr 1975 > Silverstone

20 Apr 1975 > Brands Hatch

04 May 1975 > Silverstone

18 May 1975 > Brands Hatch

26 May 1975 > Oulton Park

15 Jun 1975 > Mallory Park

29 Jun 1975 > Snetterton

13 Jul 1975 > Brands Hatch

19 Jul 1975 > Silverstone

03 Aug 1975 > Silverstone

10 Aug 1975 > Snetterton

24 Aug 1975 > Mallory Park

14 Sep 1975 > Brands Hatch

21 Sep 1975 > Brands Hatch

04 Oct 1975 > Oulton Park

12 Oct 1975 > Thruxton

19 Oct 1975 > Brands Hatch

Southern Organs Championship table

1. Ted Wentz Lola T360 42 pts 1 win
2. Gunnar Nilsson Chevron B29 36 pts 4 wins
3. Tony Brise Modus M3 31 pts 3 wins
4. Richard Morgan Chevron B29 and Wheatcroft R18 29 pts  
5. Val Musetti March 74B 18 pts  

Previous: the 1974 season

Next: the 1976 season

This series was run over nine rounds and used a 9-6-4 points system. Tony Brise only appeared in four of the nine races, winning three and finishing third in the other. Gunnar Nilsson only joined the series in late September, but dominated the last four rounds, winning all four and taking three pole positions in the Rapid Movements Chevron B29. But it was Ted Wentz, with a solitary win but five second places who took the title.

John Player Championship table

1. Tony Brise Modus M3 150 pts 6 wins
2. Jim Crawford Chevron B29 135 pts 2 wins
3. Cyd Williams Brabham BT40 and March 73B 61 pts  
4. Richard Morgan Chevron B29 and Wheatcroft R18 58 pts 2 wins
5= Ted Wentz Lola T360 53 pts 1 win
5= Peter Wardle Surtees TS15 53 pts  

Previous: the 1974 season

Next: the 1976 season

This series ran over 12 races and used a 20-15-12 points system. The other race was won by Nilsson in the Chevron B29.

Points table constructed from race results.