OldRacingCars.com

ShellSPORT 5000 European Championship race

Brands Hatch, 7 Nov 1976

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 David Purley (F5000) 3.4-litre Chevron B30 [30-75-01] - Ford GAA V6
#7 Lec Refrigeration Ltd (see note 1)
30 27m 55.2s
2 Derek Bell (F1) 3-litre Penske PC3 [02] - Cosworth DFV V8
#3 Hexaggon of Highgate Ltd
30 28m 10.0s
3 Richard Robarts (F2) 2-litre March 762 [15 as '22'] - Hart 420R
#27 Myson Racing (see note 2)
30
4 Eddie Cheever (F2) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [35] - Hart 420R
#55 Project 4 Racing (see note 3)
30 28m 33.0s
5 Keith Holland Lola T400 [HU8] - Chevrolet V8
#25 E. L. Gibbs Ltd Racing (see note 4)
30 28m 42.6s
6 Mike Wilds (F1) 3-litre Shadow DN3B [2A as "DN3B/5A"] - Cosworth DFV V8
#10 Team P.R. Reilly/Plus One
30 28m 48.4s
7 Emilio de Villota (F1) 3-litre Lyncar 006 - Cosworth DFV V8
#32 Medinabi Racing Bearings/Lyncar Engineering
29
8 Jim Crawford (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 ["D"] - Ford BDA Hart
#26 Jim Crawford (see note 5)
29
9 Tony Rouff (F2) 2-litre Boxer PR276 [001] - Ford BDX Swindon
#30 Netherton & Worth/Boxer Cars
29
10 Divina Galica (F1) 3-litre Surtees TS16-4 [05] - Cosworth DFV V8
#13 ShellSPORT-Rolatruc
29
11 Peter Wardle (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Surtees TS15 [06] - Ford BDA Swindon
#208 Radio Luxembourg/Applied Racing Techniques
(see note 6)
29
12 Bernard de Dryver (F2) 2-litre March 752 [8] - BMW M12/7
#46 Bernard de Dryver
28
13 Dennis Leech Chevron B28 [28-74-02] - Chevrolet Morand V8
#77 Dennis Leech (see note 7)
28
14 Ian Grob (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-05?] - Hart 420R
#65 Fred Opert Racing (see note 8)
28
15 Val Musetti (F2) 2-litre March "752" ['B'] - Ford BDX Swindon
#15 Bernigra Ices (London)
27
16 José Maria de Uriarte (F2) 2-litre March 762 [752-21] - Ford BDX
#49 Withers of Winsford/Roger Heavens Racing
(see note 9)
26 not classified
17 Geoff Friswell (F2) 2-litre March 732/742 [1-2] - Hart 420R
#24 R. E. Bates & Son (Builders) Ltd
(see note 10)
26 not known
18 John Nicholson (F2) 2-litre March 752 [22] - Chevrolet Vega
#40 Pinch Plant Ltd (see note 11)
23 accident
19 Nick May (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Sana RD9 - Ford BDA
#51 Harrisons of Birmingham Ltd/Graham Eden Racing
19 accident
20 Ray Mallock (F2) 2-litre March 752 [75B-U1] - Ford BDX Swindon
#14 Ardmore Racing (see note 12)
electrics
DNS Philip Guerola (G8 2.0) 1.9-litre Brabham BT30 [11] - Cosworth FVC
#37 Philip Guerola (see note 13)
Did not start
DNQ Allan Kayes Lola T330 [HU17] - Chevrolet V8
#75 Ian Ward with Team Round Table
(see note 14)
Did not qualify
DNQ Cyd Williams (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Sana RD11 - Ford BDA Swindon
#69 Withers of Winsford Ltd
Did not qualify
  Alo Lawler (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-06-2] - Ford BDA Swindon
#16 L&B Excavations (see note 15)
On entry list
  Roy Baker (F2) 2-litre March 752 - Ford BDG
#18 Roy Baker
On entry list
  Brian McGuire (F1) 3-litre Williams FW04 [1] - Cosworth DFV V8
#21 Kelly Girl
On entry list
  Brian Henton (F2) 2-litre Boxer PR276 [001] - Ford BDX Swindon
#61 Netherton & Worth/Boxer Cars
On entry list
  Jim Kelly Trojan T101 [102] - Chevrolet V8
#78 Jim Kelly (see note 16)
On entry list

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Eddie Cheever (F2) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [35] - Hart 420R 0.49.6
2 David Purley (F5000) 3.4-litre Chevron B30 [30-75-01] - Ford GAA V6 0.50.0
3 Derek Bell (F1) 3-litre Penske PC3 [02] - Cosworth DFV V8 0.50.0
4 Richard Robarts (F2) 2-litre March 762 [15 as '22'] - Hart 420R 0.50.4
5 Emilio de Villota (F1) 3-litre Lyncar 006 - Cosworth DFV V8 0.50.6
6 Keith Holland (F5000) 5-litre Lola T400 [HU8] - Chevrolet V8 0.50.6
7 Divina Galica (F1) 3-litre Surtees TS16-4 [05] - Cosworth DFV V8 0.50.8
8 Ray Mallock (F2) 2-litre March 752 [75B-U1] - Ford BDX Swindon 0.51.8
9 Tony Rouff (F2) 2-litre Boxer PR276 [001] - Ford BDX Swindon 0.51.8
10 Peter Wardle (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Surtees TS15 [06] - Ford BDA Swindon 0.51.8
11 Bernard de Dryver (F2) 2-litre March 752 [8] - BMW M12/7 0.52.0
12 Val Musetti (F2) 2-litre March "752" ['B'] - Ford BDX Swindon 0.52.0
13 Ian Grob (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-05?] - Hart 420R 0.52.0
14 Nick May (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Sana RD9 - Ford BDA 0.52.4
15 José Maria de Uriarte (F2) 2-litre March 762 [752-21] - Ford BDX 0.52.6
16 Mike Wilds (F1) 3-litre Shadow DN3B [2A as "DN3B/5A"] - Cosworth DFV V8 0.52.8
17 Geoff Friswell (F2) 2-litre March 732/742 [1-2] - Hart 420R 0.52.8
18 John Nicholson (F2) 2-litre March 752 [22] - Chevrolet Vega 0.52.8
19 Dennis Leech (F5000) 5-litre Chevron B28 [28-74-02] - Chevrolet Morand V8 0.52.8
20 Jim Crawford (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B34 ["D"] - Ford BDA Hart 0.52.8
21 Allan Kayes * (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU17] - Chevrolet V8 0.53.6
22 Philip Guerola * (G8 2.0) 1.9-litre Brabham BT30 [11] - Cosworth FVC 0.59.9
23 Cyd Williams * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Sana RD11 - Ford BDA Swindon 1.03.4
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Chevron B30 [30-75-01] (David Purley): See full history: Chevron B30.
  2. March 762 [15 as '22'] (Richard Robarts): New to Richard Robarts in June 1976, fitted with a Hart 420R engine and raced in European F2 and Shellsport G8 in 1976 when Robarts was sponsored by Myson. For some reason this car wore chassis plate 762-22, which was its monocoque number, instead of its actual chassis number 762-15. It was used once more by Robarts in early 1977 and March records then show it being sold to Dr Joseph Ehrlich in February 1978. It was raced for Ehrlich by Brett Riley in two Aurora AFX British F1 races, at Mallory Park in July and Brands Hatch in August, but at the latter race he skated off at Westfield and the car was badly damaged. Parts from the car may have been used in the Ehrlich RP5 built towards the end of 1979.
  3. Ralt RT1/76 [35] (Eddie Cheever): New to Ron Dennis's Project Four Racing in August 1976 and fitted with a Hart 420R engine for Eddie Cheever to race in European F2, replacing his March 762. First raced by Cheever at the Brands Hatch Shellsport G8 race on 30 August, then in two F2 races, and another Shellsport G8 race at Brands Hatch. Dennis bought three new Ralts for 1977, and RT1-35 was not used again until May 1978, when it was bought by Alo Lawler, still with its 1976-spec Hart 420R, to use in the Aurora AFX British F1 championship. Raced in three rounds, retiring from each, and was easily beaten in a libre race at Croft by Andy Barton. It was then unseen in 1979 and 1980, until advertised in November 1980 as a "hardly used" rolling chassis. It was acquired by Richard Fry (Bath, Avon) and fitted with a 2.5-litre Hart engine and run at the Prescott hillclimb on 5 April, where Fry was sharing with Ted Williams. The pair later moved to a Pilbeam MP40, and the Ralt was abandoned again. In December 1982, it was advertised by Dave Williams (Humble, TX), who had been racing in the UK and had evidently taken the car home with him to Texas. From him it went to Joe Sposato (Rossmoor, CA) and was sold for 1984 to Peter West. He raced it in the WCAR event at Riverside in October 1984 but failed to start, and car was returned to Sposato. He then sold it to Tom Shanley (Riverside, CA)
  4. Lola T400 [HU8] (Keith Holland): New to McKechnie Racing Org and raced by Richard Scott and Bob Evans in UK series 1975. To Len Gibbs for Keith Holland UK 1976 and early 1977. To Gerry Amato, then Allan Kayes for Group 8 in 1977. Then unknown until 'found in a garage in Cambridge' by Mike Connor and raced in a libre race at Castle Combe in April 1980. This must be the car Peter Allnutt drove in a libre race at the same circuit in August 1980. Next seen with Mick Hill 1982, who converted it into a "BMW M1" with 7.4-litre Chevrolet V8 for "GT" racing: raced in Donington GT series 1983 (shared between Hill and Kevin Riley). Also raced in Thundersports, co-driven by Riley 1983 and 1984 … advertised by Straight Six (Tony Hildebrand) 1986 … David Sheppard: raced in Thundersports, co-driven by Gary Dobbin, 1989 … Ian Higgins (Boston, Lincolnshire) about 1990, and taken apart to recreate the Lola T400. To Shayne Windelburn (Auckland, New Zealand) around 1991. Raced by Windelburn in Australian and New Zealand historics from 2000 (or earlier), and raced regularly in the F5000 Tasman Revival from its start in November 2003, when he won the feature race at the opening round, to the 2017/18 season. More information about Lola T400 HU8
  5. Chevron B34 ["D"] (Jim Crawford): In November 1976, Chevron Cars loaned Jim Crawford what was described as a development B34 chassis, which was fitted with Crawford's own "rather tired two-year-old Hart Atlantic engine". Crawford's career had stalled in 1976, after his Lotus F1 testing contract expired at the end of 1975 and his plans for a F2 Chevron drive in 1976 had come to nothing. He raced the "B34D" in the ShellSPORT race at Brands Hatch in November 1976, after which it was not seen again.
  6. Surtees TS15 [06] (Peter Wardle): New to Peter Wardle (Wimbledon, London) and raced in British Formula Atlantic in 1973, winning from pole position at one race Brands Hatch in August. Retained for 1974, again in British Formula Atlantic, and then retained for a third season in 1975. However, towards the end of 1975, Wardle was entering Steve Carvill (Wimbledon, London) in some races, and it is unclear whether the team had a second TS15 by this point, as the pair never appeared together in the same race. Wardle acquired sponsorship from Radio Luxembourg and Applied Racing Techniques for 1976, and both Wardle and Carvill appeared in Indylantic and in Shellsport G8 during that season, presumably both still in chassis 06. Wardle advertised a TS15 in 1983, with FG400 but no engine and a mountain of spares. According to researcher David McKinney, chassis 06 and chassis 07 were with Tony Collinson in 1990, and chassis 06 appears to stayed with its sister through the ownership of Gerry Wainwright, John Elliott, Mark Griffiths and Crispian Besley, who had both cars in 2010. Beesley sold chassis 06 to Dean Forward in 2019, still in unrestored component form.
  7. Chevron B28 [28-74-02] (Dennis Leech): See full history: Chevron B28 74-02.
  8. Chevron B35 [35-76-05?] (Ian Grob): New to Fred Opert Racing for Formula 2 in 1976, and used by Juan Cochésa for the opening four races of the season, until he failed to qualify at Salzburgring. Jean-Pierre Jarier took over the drive at Pau, and and it was raced later in the season by Hans Binder, Hans Meier, Jacques Laffite and Rolf Stommelen. It was then rented by Ian Grob for two races of the Shellsport G8 series at Brands Hatch in October and November. The sister car to this was taken out for the Macau GP and sold in New Zealand, but the next time 76-05 was seen was at the start of the 1977 F2 season, prior to the Opert team's second and third B40s being delivered, when it was driven by Keke Rosberg at Silverstone and by Hans Royer at Thruxton. Subsequent history unknown but a car in France later claimed this identity.
  9. March 762 [752-21] (José Maria de Uriarte): Originally intended for Trivellato but not collected so fitted with a F3 rear wing and sold instead to Markus Hotz (Lippoldswilen, Switzerland) for European hillclimbs and Swiss championship events. At the beginning of 1976, it was raced by Harald Ertl in the F2 race at Hockenheim, finishing sixth. Hotz continued with Swiss championship events but damaged the car, and returned it to the factory in part exchange for a new March 762. March sold the 752 on, unrepaired, to Roger Heavens, who rebuilt it as a 762 and intended to fit the turbocharged 1.4-litre Ford Formula 2 engine that Geoff Richardson was developing. When the car appeared, in the Shellsport G8 series with Derrick Worthington driving, it used a Richardson BDX instead. Also raced in G8 and libre events by José Maria de Uriarte. Retained for 1977 and entered by Heavens for Pablo Brea and Hervé Leguellec. Taken over by Adrian Russell (Thornton Heath, Surrey) later in 1977, and raced by him in British F1 and libre in 1978. Sold to Paul Brooks (Selby, North Yorkshire) for 1979, and raced in libre. Subsequent history unknown.
  10. March 732/742 [1-2] (Geoff Friswell): STP March Engineering works car for Jean-Pierre Beltoise at the first race, then for Hans-Joachim Stuck at two races and then for Jean-Pierre Jarier at two races. A new car, 732-10, was later built for Beltoise so this 732-1 became what March called the "training car" and was used by Stuck later in the year and was then the third spare car remaining in March's transporter at several races. Probably for Mário Cabral at Estoril. Then unknown until June 1975 when acquired by John Calvert for libre racing in 742 spec. To Geoff Friswell mid-1976, rebuilt for him by Brian Lisles and fitted with a Hart 420R engine, but wrecked in practice at Oulton Park in September. Rebuilt on a 742 chassis and raced in two late-season events. Later to Jonathan Buncombe who fitted an FVC engine for libre races. Sold to Roger Orgee and further modified to 772P specification for Formula Atlantic in 1979. Sold after the 1979 season to Harry Vickers' Cowgate Motors in Newcastle and was used in the construction of their Group 5 Lotus Elan HV/80/S2 for Nicky Ellis. This car used a standard Elan backbone chassis with the suspension from the ex-Orgee 732/742/772 and a Swindon BDX. All that would have been left of Orgee's car would have been the monocoque, and as this was a replacement 742 tub, the March 732 had effectively ceased to exist.
  11. March 752 [22] (John Nicholson): New to Ron Dennis's Project Three Racing but using an early-season monocoque that had already been used by the work team. Raced by Patrick Depailler at Pau, then Vittorio Brambilla at Salzburgring, and by Bruno Pescia, Sandro Cinotti, Tim Schenken and Maurizio Flammini later in the season. Sold to John Nicholson for 1976, fitted with a Chevrolet Vega engine and used in F2 and in the Shellsport G8 series. To Alan Baillie for 1977, who fitted a Swindon BDX engine for libre, Shellsport and Aurora over the next three seasons. Subsequent history unknown.
  12. March 752 [75B-U1] (Ray Mallock): An unnumbered March 75B built for Ray Mallock (Roade, Northamptonshire) and run for him in British Formula Atlantic and some F2 races by Ardmore Racing in 1975. It replaced the second-hand March 742 that Mallock wrecked in the Thruxton Formula 2 race in March, but it is possible that the 75B was still used the chassis plate of the old 742 during this time, as it was listed by Motoring News as "742/12" twice in 1975 and was also described as a 742 by MN at Hockenheim in September 1976. Mallock raced the car in F2 for the last four races of 1975. For 1976, Ardmore Racing bought a Lola T450 for Mallock, but when that proved a flop, fitted the March with a Swindon BDX engine and Mallock raced that car in Formula 2 specification in the European F2 series and in the Shellsport Group 8 series. During the season it was further modified with wider sidepods, it main radiator moved to the front and from Pau onwards used the nose from one of Ray Mallock's father's Mallock U2s. Last raced by Mallock at Brands Hatch on 7 November 1976. This may be the 75B advertised by MRE (Bourne End, Bucks) in Autosport four days later, described as "Updated to full F2 spec" with FG gearbox and "2 litre alloy engine". In the same edition of Autosport, Lucien Lampach (Wiltz, Luxembourg) was seeking a F2 car, and photographs indicate that he acquired the modified Mallock 75B and ran it as a March 742 in European hillclimbs in 1977. Subsequent history unknown.
  13. Brabham BT30 [11] (Philip Guerola): Sold to John Watson (Craigavad, County Down, Northern Ireland) for F2 in 1970, replacing a Lola T100 that Watson had used with great success in Irish libre. Retained for F2 in 1971, during which time it was partly updated to BT36 specification. To Bob Howlings (Congleton, Cheshire) for libre 1972 and fitted with a 1800cc Cosworth FVC mid-season. Sold to Tony Dean (Leeds, West Yorkshire) in August so he would have a car for the Rothmans 50,000. To Phillip Guerola (Bickley, Kent) 1973 and raced in libre until the end of 1976. Advertised ("ex-Watson") as a rolling chassis from an Aylesbury number in January 1978 and bought by Barrie Dutnall (Medway, Kent) in 1979 or 1980 but not used. Advertised by Dutnall as a rolling chassis in June 1981. Said to have been owned by Jon Bradburn, David Rishworth (Leamington, Warwickshire) and Kelvin Lambeth before bought by David McLaughlin in or before 2003. To David Brown (Ashford, Kent) 2003. To Ian Gray (Mansfield, Nottinghamshire) 2004.
  14. Lola T330 [HU17] (Allan Kayes): See full history: Lola T330 HU17.
  15. Chevron B29 [29-75-06-2] (Alo Lawler): New to Alo Lawler (St Helens, Merseyside) and raced in the 1975 British Formula Atlantic championship, sponsored by L&B Excavations Ltd. Also used in the Irish championship that year, and in libre racing. Retained by Lawler for 1976, when he raced it in the Shellsport G8 championship, the Irish Formula Atlantic championship, the British Indylantic championship, and in libre racing. Sold to John Eastwood and raced in the Irish Formula Atlantic series. To Joe Greenan (Belfast, Northern Ireland) for 1978, and entered by Irish Racing Cars in Irish Atlantic, then raced by Ken Fildes (Clonskeagh, Dublin) in 1979 and 1980. Sold to English wheeler dealer Bobby Howlings (Congleton, Cheshire) for 1981, and raced by Howlings in rounds of the reintroduced British Formula Atlantic championship. Sold to Stuart Harte (Littleborough, Greater Manchester) and fitted with a 2.2-litre Hart 420R engine for sprints and hillclimbs. After Harte's death, the car was retained by his family until 2011, when it was sold to Jon Waggitt. Waggitt sold it to Chris Porritt in July 2011, and he spent some years returning it to running condition. He first raced it at Laguna Seca in March 2020, then brought it back to the UK later that year.
  16. Trojan T101 [102] (Jim Kelly): See full history: Trojan T101/102.

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.

1969-1976 UK results have been researched and collated by Chris Townsend based primarily on material in Autosport and Motoring News. Information has been added from the growing collection of entry lists from programs.

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.