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Vandervell British Formula 3 Championship Race

Thruxton, 7 Apr 1980

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Kenneth Acheson March 793 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#8 RMC Group
15 19m 06.57s
110.96 mph
2 Roberto Guerrero Argo JM6 [039-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#4 Anglia Cars
15 19m 08.08s
3 Mike White March 803 [2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#11 Autowindscreens with Gerard Racing
15 19m 19.79s
4 David Sears Argo JM6 [043-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#3 Rushen Green Racing
15 19m 24.72s
5 Nigel Mansell March 803 [18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#12 March Racing Ltd
15 19m 26.15s
6 Brett Riley March 783/793 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#18 David Price Racing
15 19m 26.66s
7 Mike Blanchet Lola T770/2 [T770 HU1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#30 SDC Buiilders
15 19m 28.00s
8 Eddie Jordan March 803 [16] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#7 Marlboro Team Ireland (see note 1)
15 19m 30.06s
9 John Village Ralt RT1/78 [115] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#15
15 19m 36.32s
10 Mike O'Brien March 803 [10] - Chevrolet Vega Titan
#9 National Girobank
15 19m 43.15s
11 Rick Whyman Chevron B43 [43.78.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#24 (see note 2)
15 19m 54.16s
12 Gerry Amato March 793 [783-5] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#14 Gerry Amato Racing (see note 3)
15 20m 06.18s
13 Thierry Tassin Argo JM6 [042-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#5 Anglia Cars
15 20m 10.27s
R Peré (Pedro) Noguès Argo JM6 [038-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#2 Real Automovil Club Catalunya
11
R Stefan Johansson March 803 [20 or 21] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#1 Project Four Racing
0 Accident damage
UNK Phil Silverstone Argo JM6 [041-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#41

DNS Rob Wilson Ralt RT3/80 [191] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#31 SW Racing
Did not start
(Engine)
DNA Bernard Devaney March 793 [18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#16 Derek McMahon Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Tony Norton March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite 4
#23 PC Designs (see note 4)
Did not arrive
DNA Jan Ridell Argo JM1 [003-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#42
Did not arrive
DNA Terry Gray Ralt RT1/78 [139] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#47
Did not arrive

All cars are 2-litre F3 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Stefan Johansson (F3) 2-litre March 803 [20 or 21] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 14.45s
2 Kenneth Acheson (F3) 2-litre March 793 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 14.52s
3 Mike White (F3) 2-litre March 803 [2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.09s
4 Thierry Tassin (F3) 2-litre Argo JM6 [042-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.13s
5 Roberto Guerrero (F3) 2-litre Argo JM6 [039-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.14s
6 Eddie Jordan (F3) 2-litre March 803 [16] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.27s
7 Nigel Mansell (F3) 2-litre March 803 [18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.29s
8 Brett Riley (F3) 2-litre March 783/793 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.33s
9 Mike O'Brien (F3) 2-litre March 803 [10] - Chevrolet Vega Titan 1m 15.65s
10 David Sears (F3) 2-litre Argo JM6 [043-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.73s
11 Peré (Pedro) Noguès (F3) 2-litre Argo JM6 [038-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.76s
12 Mike Blanchet (F3) 2-litre Lola T770/2 [T770 HU1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 15.77s
13 Rob Wilson * (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/80 [191] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 16.16s
14 Rick Whyman (F3) 2-litre Chevron B43 [43.78.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.16s
15 John Village (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/78 [115] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.64s
16 Gerry Amato (F3) 2-litre March 793 [783-5] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 18.52s
17 Phil Silverstone (F3) 2-litre Argo JM6 [041-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 22.74s
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. March 803 [16] (Eddie Jordan): Sold to Eddie Jordan 18 Jan 1980. Used in first part of 1980 season, then rented out, and for sale with chassis number (Autosport 5 Feb 1981 p47). To Roger Cowman (Belper, Derbyshire) for Ian Shaw then subsequently to Tony Norton. Retained 1982.
  2. Chevron B43 [43.78.07] (Rick Whyman): New to Chevron Racing Team for Patrick Gaillard to race in the European F3 championship in 1978. Sold to Barry Green for British F3 in 1979, and rented by Fred Opert Racing for Manuel Tolama to drive at the Monaco GP F3 event that year. To Rick Whyman for British F3 in 1980, then driven by Trevor Wigglesworth from August onwards after Whyman bought a March 793. Raced again by Wigglesworth for Rick Whyman Racing in 1981.
  3. March 793 [783-5] (Gerry Amato): Shown in March records for 1978 as delivered to Daniel Herregods, 19 January 1978, colour yellow with tub 78M25. To Rob Wilson in 1979 to replace his tiring Ralt RT1 and updated to 1979 specification. Autosport notes ‘ex Herregods’ and chassis number noted by F1R at Snetterton in August 1979. Sold to Gerry Amato for 1980 season, Autosport notes his car as ‘ex Wilson 1979’. Retained by Amato until 1982 then sold to Greg and Tim Atkinson.
  4. March 773 [3] (Tony Norton): March build records show sold to Unipart, 23 December 1976. Only one 773 is consigned to Unipart in the build records. Assumed that Taylor as senior driver would take the new car, a fact borne out by occasional references in 1977 to Needell being in a 763, the team's original car.

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.

These British Formula 3 results have been compiled by Chris Townsend using the main British magazines Autosport and Motoring News but also the US magazine On Track which carried surprisingly good coverage of the British series.

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 10 Apr 1980 p53, Motoring News 10 Apr 1980 p22