Grand Prix d'Albi

Albi, 24 Sep 1972

All cars are 2-litre F2 unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. Brabham BT38 [‘33’ as 18-2] (Jean-Pierre Jaussaud): A "new chassis" replacing the ASCA team's Brabham BT38 wrecked by Jean-Pierre Jaussaud at Rouen. It was raced by teammate Adam Potocki at Imola, where Potocki failed to qualify, and was then Jaussaud's car for the rest of the season. ASCA entered Jaussaud in the Brazilian F2 Torneio, but he was involved in the startline accident at the second Interlagos race, and the Brabham was badly damaged. According to Chris Townsend's research, this car was acquired by Fred Opert Racing and raced by Héctor Rebaque in the Caracas Formula B race in March 1973, then by Brian Robertson in the JAF Grand Prix in May 1973. It is not clear what else Opert used it for in 1973, but in January 1974, he sold it to John Bernadine (Tulsa, OK) for SCCA Formula B. Then to Warren Pauge (Hacienda Heights, CA) in August 1975, replacing his well-used Brabham BT21. Pauge retained the BT38 for many years, even running it as a Can-Am car once in 1982. After he finally stopped racing it in 1988, he sold it to Marc Bahner, then it went to George Steven in 1992, Tom Stapleton about 2008, and Paul Skilowitz (Stuart, FL) in 2016.
2. March 722 [45] (Patrick Depailler): New to ELF Coombs Racing, and raced by Patrick Depailler in F2 in 1972, although he also drove the team's Alpine A367 at some races. Not seen in 1973, but sold by the March factory in May 1974 to Derek Robinson, of Motor Racing Supplies in Frome, Somerset. It had been updated to the latest works 742 bodywork. Robinson entered the car in Formula Atlantic for Alan Rollinson, but Rollinson was still troubled by an ankle injury and decided to retire in July. Donald MacLeod was entered in the car at a race in September, but did not arrive. It was advertised from a Radstock phone number at the start of September, described as a "works Formula Atlantic [March] 74B" that had been "built and prepared at Bicester for Alan Rollinson", and had a Holbay engine. It was in side-radiator form with a works 742 nose. Subsequent history unknown.
3. Brabham BT38 [15] (Bob Wollek): New for Motul Rondel Racing at Hockenheim in mid-April 1972, and raced all season by Bob Wolleck. Raced once by Carlos Reutemann at Enna. Sold to Bill O'Connor (Highland Park, IL) for Formula B for 1973. To Chuck Dietrich (Sandusky, OH) for 1974, then fitted with a Cosworth BDA for 1975, 1976 and 1977. He continued to race it in 1978, but at the age of 53 was appearing less often. This was presumably the Brabham he drove in 1979, but by 1980 he had replaced it with a Lola T460. The subsequent history of the Brabham is unknown.
4. Brabham BT38 [19] (Tom Belsø): Brand new for Tom Belsø at Oulton Park at the end of March 1972, entered by Team Viking. Raced by Belsø in F2 all season, then converted to Formula Atlantic for a couple of races late in the year. For sale during much of 1973, then to Tom Foster (Modesto, CA) for SCCA Formula B and ICSCC events from 1974 to 1977. Ron Householder (Portland, OR) then bought it for the engine, and sold the car in July 1978 to Kevin Skinner (Langley, BC, Canada). He won the ICSCC Formula B class in 1979, winning his class in seven races. In 2013, he still owned the car.
5. March 712M [5] (James Hunt): New to Mike Beuttler, and raced in F2 in 1971 entered by Clarke Mordaunt Racing with Alistair Guthrie. This must be the ex-Beuttler 712M acquired by Hesketh Racing, and raced by James Hunt at the Rothmans 50,000, and then in the remainder of the F2 season. Sold by Hesketh to Ray Mallock, and updated by March to 73B specification for Mallock to race in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. The car was later rebuilt on the 73B tub that had been used as a bodywork buck. Via A.W. Brown Racing to Arthur Collier 1974 for Irish Formula Atlantic, then to Patrick Woods mid-season. Borrowed by Patsy McGarrity for the Boxing Day race at Mondello Park at the end of 1974. The car was later said to have returned to the UK via AW "Monkey" Brown, then moved through the trade to Roger Andreason, who sold it to his friend Charles Richards to be used in Monoposto in 1978. From there, it moved towards historic racing, but leading to some confusion as the car by now had a 73B tub and 73B bodywork. Its life in historic racing requires further confirmation.
6. Surtees TS10 [05] (Carlos Ruesch): A new car built to replace the TS10/03 wrecked by Carlos Reusch at Pau in May, and raced by him as a Team Surtees entry during the 1972 F2 season. Reusch retired after two races of the Torneio do Brasil, and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud drove the car in the final Interlagos race. Sold to Geoff Friswell for 1973, and converted to Formula Atlantic specification, but the Clubmen's expert had a poor run of results, which ended at Mallory Park in May when he spun off at Gerards and badly damaged the car. Friswell acquired a new March 73B to replace it, and the Surtees was advertised as complete but damaged in November 1973. The subsequent history of the wreck is not known, but its tub was later with Dave Allen as a spare for his TS10/01, and was still in its company when TS10/01 was sold by Peter Bromage to Don Wood in the late 1980s.
7. Brabham BT38 [17] (Richard Scott): Brand new for Richard Scott at Oulton Park at the end of March 1972, and used by him through the 1972 F2 season. To Alan Padgett (Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire) for 1973, fitted with an 1850cc Cosworth BDE and used in hillclimbs. To David Baumforth (North Newbald, East Riding of Yorkshire) for hillclimbs and prints in 1974, then to John Hinley (Knowle, Warwickshire) for sprints in 1975. It was acquired by Tony Griffiths (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands) for 1976, then to chef Paul Edwards (London), who used it extensively in sprints in 1977 and 1978. To Ron Cumming (Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland) for libre racing in 1979, when it still had a 1800cc BDE engine. Cumming crashed the car in a race at Ingliston, probably in May 1979, and rebuilt it using a replacement monocoque supplied by Jim Stevenson. The car was then sold, less engine, to somebody in Essex. About seven years later, it was acquired by Chris Perkins (Ashbourne, Derbyshire), still in the distinctive orange-and-white livery used by Cumming in 1979 and with evidence of where the March 79B-style sidpods had been fitted, but now with a Buick V8 engine in the process of installation. Perkins's recollection is that he bought the car in the Brighton area in the mid-1980s; Autosport mention his purchase in December 1987.
8. Brabham BT36 [10] (John Wingfield): New to John Wingfield (London NW11) in September 1971 and raced in libre with a 1.7-litre Felday BDA. Raced in F2 in 1972 with Felday's 1973cc BDA and then converted to F/Atlantic specification for one race at the end of the season. Sold to Iain McLaren (Broxburn, Scotland) for 1973, fitted with a 1.8-litre Alan Smith Cosworth FVC and used for hillclimbs and libre. Advertised by MRE (Bourne End, Buckingham) in October/November 1973, who had a 1930cc Racing Services BDA in stock at the same time. Sold to Chris Choat and John Hardesty for 1974 and used in libre with a 2-litre Racing Services BDA. Retained for 1975 until sold in the summer to Nick Overall, still with the same RS BDA. To Mike Gue for 1976. Then to Ian Henderson who has retained the car.
9. Brabham BT38 [23-2] (Peter Westbury): Brand new for Peter Westbury, and run by Felday International Racing & Sportscar Team, using engines from Westbury's Felday Engineering. The Brabham first appeared in the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring on 30 April 1972, but crashed heavily during the race, causing "serious damage" to the monocoque. The car was rebuilt around a new monocoque in time for the Pau Grand Prix a week later. Westbury did not appear at all F2 races, but did run in the Rothmans 50,000 in August, where he used a 1997cc Felday alloy-block engine. Unused in 1973, and for sale from Dorking in November 1973. Subsequent history unknown, but may be the car raced by David Jackson many years later in Classic F3.
10. Brabham BT38 [21] (Silvio Moser): New for Silvio Moser (Lugano, Switzerland) at the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring on 30 April 1972, where it was run for him by Scuderia Del Lario, and sponsored by Marlboro. Raced by Moser in most F2 races in 1972. To Freddy Amweg (Ammerswil, Switzerland) for 1973, and used in a few F2 races, but more often in the Swiss national championship. To Jorg Siegrist (Lucerne, Switzerland) for 1974, when it was fitted with a Cosworth BDG, and used in Swiss and German events, as well as a few F2 races. Subsequent history unknown, but in July 2012, this car was advertised by Lutziger Classic Cars (Rudolfstetten, Switzerland). It had been restored by Peter Denty, was fitted with a Cosworth BDG engine, and was in Amweg's livery.
11. Brabham BT38 [13] (Claudio Francisci): Entered by Elcom Racing Team for Claudio Francisci in F2 in 1972, using 1.8-litre Novamotor Cosworth BDE engines. It was reported to have swapped chassis plates with Carlos Reutemann's BT38/11, but the story is quite confused. It is interesting that Sport Auto reported the chassis number of this car as BT38/11 at Rouen in June. Subsequent history unknown, but it should be noted that this is a different car to Eligio Siconolfi's Brabham BT38B-13, which later appeared in Can-Am.
12. March 722 [15] (Adrian Wilkins): New for Adrian Wilkins to race in F2 in 1972 as a John Coombs Racing entry. Subsequent history unknown, but may have been the car bought by Holman Blackburn for Formula Atlantic.
13. Brabham BT38 [12] (Max Jean ("Jean Max")): New for Motul Rondel Racing in 1972, and raced by Bob Wollek, Henri Pescarolo (who won at Enna-Pergusa), and others. One of a group of cars sold to South Africa after the Torneio do Brasil. Raced by Jackie Pretorius in 1973, using an Alan Smith Cosworth FVC, then to John Amm for 1974. Converted to Formula Atlantic and raced again by Amm in 1976. Then unknown until reportedly located by Thomas Koch in South Africa some time around 1997-1999, and imported to the US. Then sold to Terry Allard (Denver, CO) some time before 2005.
14. Surtees TS10 [01] (Mike Hailwood): New for Mike Hailwood to race as a works entry in the 1972 F2 series as a works Team Surtees entry. Hailwood won at Mantorp Park and Salzburgring in this car, and also finished second at Crystal Palace, Rouen, the Österreichring and Hockenheim in October to secure a deserved championship. He also won one race at Interlagos in November during the Torneio do Brasil, The car was not seen in 1973, but reappeared in 1974 with Richard Jones (Stroud, Gloucestershire) for hillclimbs. Raced regularly by Jones in 1975 and 1976 with a 2-litre Hart engine, and then in 1977 with a turbocharged Hart, although he soon returned to a regular engine. To Channel Islander Maurice Ogier for 1978, and used in the 1600cc class of French hillclimbs. Then to Dave Allen (Crewe, Cheshire), and raced in British Formula Atlantic in 1979. Next seen hillclimbed by Peter Bromage in the 1980s, then sold to Don Wood, and seen again shortly after when sold by dealer Straight Six to the US in 1991. Raced by Gil Nickel (Oakville, CA) in US historic events between 1994 and 2002. Nickel died in 2003, but the car has been retained by his family in the car collection at Nickel's Far Niente Winery in Oakville.
15. Brabham BT38 [24] (Adam Potocki): New to the French ASCA team, and first seen when driven by Count Adam Potocki at Hockenheim in mid-April 1972. After a few slow races with Potocki, this car was taken over by ASCA teammate Jean-Pierre Jaussaud for the Österreichring and Imola races, the Frenchman having wrecked his regular car at Rouen. It then returned to be Potocki's car to the end of the season.
16. GRD 272 [016-F2] (Hiroshi Kazato): New for 1972, and entered in F2 by GRS International for a variety of drivers, including Reine Wisell, Tom Walkinshaw and Alan Jones. Rented to Wheatcroft Racing for Roger Williamson to drive in Formula Atlantic at the end of the season. Subsequent history unknown.
17. GRD 272 [020-F2] (Tetsu Ikuzawa): New for Tetsu Ikuzawa to drive in F2 in 1972 as a GRS International entry. For 1973, the car was sold to hillclimber Ken MacMaster (Stourbridge, Worcestershire) and fitted with a 1600cc Hart BDA for hillclimbs. Retained for 1974. MacMaster acquired a Modus M4 for 1975, and the history of the GRD for the next eight years is unknown. In 1983, it was raced by Alan Dix (St Peter, Jersey) in hillclimbs and sprints in England. The car was then retained by Dix until January 2003, when it was bought by Brad Moore and moved to Peter Denty's workshop for some restoration work before being shipped to Moore's workshop at Sears Point, CA.
18. Elf 2 (Alpine) A367 [3670] (Jean-Pierre Jabouille): Entered as an "ELF 2", but built by Alpine and designated the A367. Chassis 3670 was built for the 1972 F2 season, when it was raced by Patrick Depailler and Jean-Pierre Jabouille. This is apparently the same car that was updated for 1973 and became Depailler's regular car that season. Substantially redesigned by Andre de Cortanze for 1974, and fitted with a Schnitzer BMW as a fourth team car for Alain Serpaggi and others to race. According to reports, this car started to be converted to 1975 specification, but was unfinished. In 1999, this car was reported to be owned by Thierry Gay (Lyons), and Gerard Gamand reported on Autodiva that the car had been reconstructed using a new chassis fabricated by Gilles and Vincent Duqueine. In 2015, Fred Marquet's HTT Motorsport was restoring this car to its 1974 Serpaggi specification. It was first seen at Albi in June 2016.
19. Brabham BT38 [26] (Gerry Birrell): New for Motul Rondel Racing in May 1972, replacing BT38/11, and raced by Carlos Reutemann. Also raced by Gerry Birrell at Albi, when Reutemann was away racing in the Canadian GP. Reutemann left the Rondel team after the Hockenheim race at the beginning of October, following a disagreement over engines, and the car was raced by Ronnie Peterson in the Brazilian F2 series. Sold by Rondel to Tom Klausler (Palatine, IL) for Formula B in 1973, and won at Trois-Rivières in September. Then advertised by Roy Witz (Arlington Heights, IL) in mid-1974, then sold to John Kowalski (Berea, OH) for Formula Atlantic in 1975. Kowalski advertised it in December 1975 as "ex Klausler", still with its "big valve Hart" engine. Used by Kowalski in early 1976, but he then upgraded to a newer Lola T360. The Brabham is believed to have gone to Dr Mike Orgel (Ladue, MO), who raced a Brabham BT38 in Formula B and then Formula Atlantic in SCCA Midwest Division events from 1977 to 1980. After driving in Regionals in 1977, he won the MidDiv Regional title in 1978, and scored 10 points in Nationals that year. He did not appear in the points table for 1979, but scored one point in 1980 in a Brabham BT38. It would then be the "ex-Peterson" car acquired at some point from Orgel by Bob Willis (St Louis, MO), who also owned the Rondel sister car BT38/14.
20. March 722 [10] (David Purley): New to David Purley and entered by Lec Refrigeration Racing for him in F2 in 1972. Retained for 1973, but converted to Formula Atlantic, fitted with Falconer bodywork and run in the two British championships, winning the opening race of each championship. At Silverstone in May, Autosport reported that the car was appearing for the first time in 73B bodywork and using narrow track. Photographs of the car at the following race, which Purley won, show that it also had front-facing rollhoop supports, which are usually indicative of the 1973 March monocoque, and a more detailed picture of the car at Silverstone in July shows that the front suspension also indicated it now had a 1973 monocoque. He used the car to the end of the season, winning five races in total. It was then raced by Dieter Quester at Macau at the end of 1973, who was said to have bought the "73B". However, Quester's recollection was that it was rented by Team Harper for him to drive. Subsequent history unknown, but possibly sold in the Far East. The car would probably have been indistinguishable from a 73B by this time.
21. McLaren M21 [M21-72-01] (Jody Scheckter): New for Jody Scheckter to race in the 1972 F2 series as a works Bruce McLaren Motor Racing entry (won at Crystal Palace in May). Sold to Yves Martin (Rennes, France) and used in French hillclimbs during 1973 and 1974. Crashed heavily at Montgueux in September 1974. Rebuilt during 1975 with new bodywork and entered for Gilles Péquegnot as the Guépard in the last few months of the 1975 season. Sold to Didier Bonnet (Besançon, France) for 1976, and fitted with a 1600cc engine. The later history of this car is unknown. Note that the three cars restored in the 1990s are all believed to be Trojan-built cars, and none are the ex-Scheckter car.
22. Pygmée MDB17 [372] (Patrick Dal Bo): New to the BERT team for Patrick Dal Bo to race in the 1972 F2 series. Dal Bo was fourth in the first race of the season, but had a series of failures to qualify, often caused by engine failures. The car was sold to Georges Schäfer for 1973, and used in occasional F2 races, rounds of the Swiss championship, and French hillclimbs for the next three seasons, using a Cosworth BDE engine. It appears that it was updated for 1974 with revised bodywork and given the chassis plate "MDB19 - 03 -74". Gérard Gamand's book shows this as the Pygmée owned by Roger Martini (Girond, Aquitaine) from 1979 to 1983, although Martini believed he had owned the ex-Pace car. According to Gamand, the car then passed via two other French owners, 'Legeay' and 'Sutter' to Roland Perrin in 1988, by which time it had acquired odd square sidepods and a Martini nose, and the steelwork had been painted a fetching orange. Bought by Peter Morley in Belgium in 2005, then to Gamand in April 2007, who completely restored the car in 2008-09. On display at Epoqu'auto in Lyon in November 2009. Raced by Gamand in Historic F2 in 2010 and 2012. On display on the Autodiva stand at Epoqu'Auto in November 2013.
23. March 722 [14] (José Dolhem): New to Ecurie Shell-Arnold for F2 in 1972, and raced by Jean-Pierre Jarier, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, and José Dolhem. Sold to Yves Courage for 1973, and raced by him in French hillclimbs with a 1798cc Cosworth BDE. To Roland Davril for 1974, but his season was ended early when his engine injected a stone. To Robert Lucet for 1975, now equipped with a 1930cc BDE, and retained by him for 1976, and for 1977, when it was described as a March 742/752. Retained again for 1978, but now in the 1600cc class with a Cosworth engine. It was sold to Marcel Perriot for 1979, then to Patrick Tibonnet 1982, then Bernard Pourchet 1984, then Charles Gnaedinger 1998. Gnaedinger sold it via Grand Prix Classics to Denis Maynard, and it then passed via Grand Prix Classics again to Bill Morris in 2001. Then unknown until sold by George Grigoriev (San Diego, CA) to Ray Stubber in September 2011. Sold by Stubber to Angelo Orloff (Western Australia) in November 2015.
24. Pygmée MDB17 [272] (Jean-Louis Lafosse): New to the BERT team for Carlos Pace to race in the 1972 F2 series. Pace led at Thruxton, and came close to leading at Hockenheim. Pace then returned to Brazil due to the death of his father, and his MDB17 was used by Duarte at Pau after he damaged his usual car. Pace used it again at the Österreichring but failed to qualify after engine problems. Not seen again until it was loaned to Jean-Louis Lafosse for the Albi GP, but he was unable to start either the Heat or the Final. This car was not seen in 1973 or 1974, but was acquired by Marc Regal and used in French hillclmbs in 1975. Regal continued to run the car, using a Cosworth FVA engine in the 1600cc class, to the end of 1979. The car had been fitted with MDB18 bodywork by 1978, and may have had that as early as 1975. Subsequent history unknown, but this may be one of the cars described as a "MDB20" in 1980. Didier Martin has commented that this car was the one raced by Henri Neel in the 1980s. Gérard Gamand lists the car as being with Edouard Géraud in 1998. Géraud sold chassis 2 to Pierre Lees in early 2006, and by 2007, the car was restored and was near Paris. Gamand's book in 2010 said it was in the Collection Pierre Lees. At HTT Motorsport in January 2017.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.

Individual sources for this event

Autosport 28 Sep 1972 pp7-9, Motoring News 28 Sep 1972 pp8-9.