OldRacingCars.com

ShellSPORT 5000 European Championship race

Thruxton, 31 May 1976

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 David Purley (F5000) 3.4-litre Chevron B30 [30-75-01] - Ford GAA V6
#7 Lec Refrigeration Racing Team
(see note 1)
30 45m 02.6s
94.15 mph
2 John Nicholson (F2) 2-litre March 752 [22] - Chevrolet Vega
#40 John Nicholson (see note 2)
29 45m 22.4s
3 Mike Wilds (F1) 3-litre Shadow DN3B ["6A"] - Cosworth DFV V8
#10 Team P.R.Reilly/Plus-One
29 45m 16.0s
4 Divina Galica (F1) 3-litre Surtees TS16-4 [05] - Cosworth DFV V8
#13 Shellsport Whiting
29 46m 22.4s
5 Dennis Leech Chevron B28 [28-74-02] - Chevrolet V8
#77 Dennis Leach (see note 3)
29 46m 33.0s
6 Keith Holland Lola T400 [HU8] - Chevrolet V8
#25 E.L. Gibbs Ltd Racing (see note 4)
28 45m 08.0s
7 Bill Gubelmann (F2) 2-litre March 732/752 [732-11] - Ford BDG
#6 Gubelmann and Gerard (see note 5)
28 45m 10.0s
8 Val Musetti (F2) 2-litre March "752" ['B'] - Ford BDX Swindon
#15 Val Musetti
27 45m 58.4s
9 Jim Kelly Trojan T101 [102] - Chevrolet V8
#78 Jim Kelly (see note 6)
27 46m 22.2s
NC Brian Robinson (F2) 2-litre Lola T360 [HU5] - Ford BDG Close
#4 Brian Robinson (see note 7)
26 not classified
NC Jeromy Sumner (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B27 [27-74-14] - Ford BDA Swindon
#42 Jeromy Sumner (see note 8)
26 46m 41.2s
NC Damien Magee (F5000) 3.4-litre March 75A [1] - Ford GAA V6
#3 Hexagon of Highgate (see note 9)
25 not classified
NC Philip Guerola (G8 2.0) 1.9-litre Brabham BT30 [11] - Cosworth FVC
#37 Philip Guerola (see note 10)
25 not classified
NC Chris Choat Trojan T101 [105] - Chevrolet V8
#41 Chris Choat (see note 11)
24 not classified
R Chris Featherstone McRae GM1 [015] - Chevrolet Morand V8
#5 Chris Featherstone (see note 12)
22
R John Bowtell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 74B [712M] - Ford BDA
#44 John Bowtell (see note 13)
13
R Brian McGuire (F1) 3-litre Williams FW04 [1] - Cosworth DFV V8
#21 Brian McGuire
gave up
DNS John Tait (G8 2.0) 1.8-litre Brabham BT36 [1] - Cosworth FVC
#9 John Tait (see note 14)
Did not start
DNS Roy Baker (F2) 2-litre March 75B [1] - Ford BDG
#18 Roy Baker (see note 15)
Did not start
DNS Jim Crawford (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-17] - Ford BDA
#26 Coin News (see note 16)
Did not start
(misfire)
T Val Musetti (F5000) 3.4-litre March 752 [15] - Ford GAA V6
#15 Val Musetti (see note 17)
(Only used in practice)
  John Wingfield (F2) 2-litre Ralt RT1/75 [7] - Ford BDG Somers
#12 Marshall Wingfield with Corbeau Equipe
(see note 18)
On entry list
  Tony Rouff (F2) 2-litre Boxer PR276 [001] - Ford BDX Swindon
#30 Netherton and Worth Boxer Cars
On entry list
  TBA (F1) 3-litre Brabham BT44B - Cosworth DFV V8
#32 RAM Racing
On entry list
  TBA (F1) 3-litre Brabham BT44B - Cosworth DFV V8
#33 RAM Racing
On entry list
  Robin Smythe (F/Atl) 1.6-litre GRD 274 [372 036-F3] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#38 Robin Smythe (see note 19)
On entry list

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 David Purley (F5000) 3.4-litre Chevron B30 [30-75-01] - Ford GAA V6 1.10.6
2 Damien Magee (F5000) 3.4-litre March 75A [1] - Ford GAA V6 1.11.4
3 Brian McGuire (F1) 3-litre Williams FW04 [1] - Cosworth DFV V8 1.11.8
4 John Nicholson (F2) 2-litre March 752 [22] - Chevrolet Vega 1.12.0
5 Keith Holland (F5000) 5-litre Lola T400 [HU8] - Chevrolet V8 1.12.4
6 Val Musetti(T) (F5000) 3.4-litre March 752 [15] - Ford GAA V6
7 Mike Wilds (F1) 3-litre Shadow DN3B ["6A"] - Cosworth DFV V8 1.13.0
8 Bill Gubelmann (F2) 2-litre March 732/752 [732-11] - Ford BDG 1.13.4
9 Jim Crawford * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-17] - Ford BDA 1.15.6
10 Divina Galica (F1) 3-litre Surtees TS16-4 [05] - Cosworth DFV V8 1.16.0
- Roy Baker * (F2) 2-litre March 75B [1] - Ford BDG 1m 18.8s (S1)
- Chris Featherstone (F5000) 5-litre McRae GM1 [015] - Chevrolet Morand V8 1m 18.8s (S1)
- John Bowtell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 74B [712M] - Ford BDA 1m 19.4s (S1)
- Dennis Leech (F5000) 5-litre Chevron B28 [28-74-02] - Chevrolet V8 1m 20.0s (S1)
- Jeromy Sumner (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B27 [27-74-14] - Ford BDA Swindon 1m 21.4s (S1)
- Philip Guerola (G8 2.0) 1.9-litre Brabham BT30 [11] - Cosworth FVC 1m 24.0s (S1)
- Chris Choat (F5000) 5-litre Trojan T101 [105] - Chevrolet V8 1m 26.4s (S1)
- Jim Kelly (F5000) 5-litre Trojan T101 [102] - Chevrolet V8 1m 27.2s (S1)
- John Tait * (G8 2.0) 1.8-litre Brabham BT36 [1] - Cosworth FVC 1m 28.8s (S1)
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Chevron B30 [30-75-01] (David Purley): See full history: Chevron B30.
  2. 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.
  3. Chevron B28 [28-74-02] (Dennis Leech): See full history: Chevron B28 74-02.
  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. March 732/752 [732-11] (Bill Gubelmann): New to Bill Gubelmann (Oyster Bay, NY) for F2 in 1973 and retained for 1974 when run by Brian Lewis Racing. Clay Regazzoni was due to drive the car at Vallelunga in October, but did not arrive, so a deal was done for Gabrielle Serblin to drive after he damaged his usual 742 in practice. Not seen in 1975, when the intention had been to sell the car to Stuart Chubb Racing, but Gubelmann returned for the 1976 Shellsport G8 series with the car updated to 752 specification, fitted with a Hart BDG, and run by Bob Gerard. Gubelmann also appeared in a handful of F2 races in 1976, but after failing to qualify for the Rouen race, quickly moved to Mallory Park in time to qualify for the Shellsport race. He was involved in a nasty accident in the race when he clipped the rear of Mike Wilds' F1 Shadow, rode up over its back wheel and hit the bank at the Esses very hard. He was taken to hospital with head injuries. The March is believed to have been destroyed.
  6. Trojan T101 [102] (Jim Kelly): See full history: Trojan T101/102.
  7. Lola T360 [HU5] (Brian Robinson): New to Nigel Clarkson (Cirencester, Gloucestershire) and raced by him and by Richard Scott (London) in British Formula Atlantic, backed by Hurford Jones Ltd. To Nick May (Sutton, Surrey) for the 1975 British series, entered as a T360B with Strakers of Wimbledon Ltd sponsorship and run by Dave Price Racing. To Brian Robinson (Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham) and fitted with a 2-litre Cosworth BDG engine for Shellsport Group 8 races in 1976. To John Brown for John Morrison (Warwick) to drive in Shellsport G8 and libre racing in 1977, then to Kevin Bowditch (Maidenhead) for a few race appearances in 1978. It was sold to Martin Mansell (Middlesex), who raced it as a Lola "FA79" with Winchmore Hill Garage sponsorship in Formula Atlantic in 1979. Mansell crashed heavily at Brands Hatch in April 1979, and did not appear again. It was next seen in 1990 when it was bought by Robert McGimpsey (Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland) from a dealer somewhere in the English midlands. It was then fitted with a 3-litre Weslake engine, and McGimpsey used it for one season in hillclimbing before the engine and chassis were sold separately. It was bought by two friends in 1993 or 1994, and in 2012 they still had it.
  8. Chevron B27 [27-74-14] (Jeromy Sumner): Chevron build record says sold to Derek Cook, August 1974, so Cook's late season car in British Formula Atlantic. To Peter Munro (Birmingham) for 1975, but his sponsorship fell through, and he loaned the car back to Cook at the British GP meeting after he had wrecked his own car in practice. Cook then managed to wreck the Chevron on lap 1 of the race, and it did not appear again in 1975. To Jeremy Sumner for the 1976 Indyatlantic series, where it was also driven by Mike Wilds and John Scannell. Thought to have been the B27 bought by Christian Bonnifet in 1977, and used in French hillclimbs between 1979 and 1983. In 1997, Jean-Michel Coll (Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France) advertised chassis 74-14 as a rolling chassis. It was later reported to be under restoration in the UK.
  9. March 75A [1] (Damien Magee): John MacDonald (RAM Racing) 1975. Raced in UK 1975: driven by Alan Jones (3rd BARC Thruxton 17 Aug 1975) - Hexagon Garage for Damien Magee UK 1976 - Guy Edwards UK 1977; rebuilt on a March 761 monocoque, and then converted to DFV power for last few races of 1977. Edwards UK 1978 (first two races); then for Bruce Allison (five races). Also used by Desire Wilson in a test session prior to the British GP. To Terry Smith (Felton, Somerset), fitted with a 5-litre Repco engine, and used in the British Sprint Championship 1979, 1980 and 1981. Used by Smith and John Meredith British Sprint Championship 1982. To Ray Rowan 1983, and retained by him until about 1987 when the Repco engine was sold to Australia and the rolling chassis was sold via a dealer to Italy. Reemerged four years later when sold by Andrea Frasson (Rosà, Vicenza, Italy) to Daniel Pouteau (Paris, France) in December 1991. Retained by Pouteau, still apart and in still Terry Smith's livery, until sold via Bernard De Dryver to Paul Grant (Brussels, Belgium) in April 2013. Rebuilt for Masters F1 in 2015, and debut at the Spa 6 Hours in September 2015.
  10. 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.
  11. Trojan T101 [105] (Chris Choat): See full history: Trojan T101/105.
  12. McRae GM1 [015] (Chris Featherstone): Longer wheelbase car built for Graham McRae and raced in the 1973 British season. To Ian Ward Racing early 1974 and modified as "Ward KS1" but not raced in this form. It was then sold to Chris Featherstone and raced by him once at the end of 1974, then through the 1975 and 1976 seasons. After a single race at the start of 1977, the car was raced by Keith Holland in four races later in the year, and then by Featherstone in the Australian Rothmans series in February 1978. To Gary Dumbrell (Australia) 1978, then to Bob Tomlinson 1978, and then to Salt Walther 1979 for the 1979 Rothmans series, but it may be that Lee Seaton of Thomson Motor Auctions owned it though this period. Sold to Ray Gibbs (Australia) September 1979 and kept by him until sold to Stuart Lush (Auckland, New Zealand) 2000, and raced at Historic Sandown that year and in 2001. Lush raced it in the Tasman Cup Revival series from 2003 to 2015, during which time it was also raced by Chris Hyde in the 2009/10 season and by Greg Thornton in the 2012/13 season. Lush also raced the car in England during the Kiwis' visits to the UK in 2005 and 2008, and at Road America in 2014. Lush sold it to its former driver Garry Dumbrell in 2016, and after Dumbrell died in October 2021, it was sold to Peter Brennan (Melbourne, Australia) in December 2021. More information about McRae GM1-015
  13. March 74B [712M] (John Bowtell): John Bowtell (Witney, Oxfordshire) raced a March "73B" in British libre racing in 1975. He recalls that it was a 1971 car with 1973 modifications, and came from a garage in Salisbury, which would suggest a connection to Mike Sullivan of Riverside Garage in Salisbury, who ran a 712M in 1974 but who sold three Marches after that season. Bowtell modified the car over the next few seasons. He retained the car for 1976, initially for Indylantic, and then in Shellsport Group 8 races and libre, usually entering it as a 74B. He continued with it in libre in 1977, winning at least five races, and reappeared again with it in 1978, before replacing it with a "77P" for 1979. Subsequent history unknown.
  14. Brabham BT36 [1] (John Tait): New to a new team, Rondel Racing, run by ex-MRD F1 chief mechanic Ron Dennis and ex-MRD F1 and Indy mechanic Neil Trundle, for Tim Schenken to race in F2 in 1971. Sold to dealer Bobby Howlings, and used by him in libre racing in March 1972. Then sold to Tate of Leeds (Racing) for Malcolm Wayne to race in Formula Atlantic, but leased to Graham Hill to use in the early F2 races at Thruxton and Hockenheim before his BT38 was delivered. Sold back to Howlings in May 1972, then to Arthur Moore for libre, but crashed on his debut. For Moore in libre again in 1973 with a Cosworth FVA engine, and in 1974 with a 1800cc Cosworth FVC. Then unknown for nearly two years before Howlings (yet again) raced it in Shellsport G8 in early 1976, again fitted with a 1800cc Cosworth FVC. To John Tait and used in Shellsport G8 in 1976 and 1977. To Eddy D'Hoe in Belgium in 1978, and hillclimbed with an FVA engine. To Regis Jumez 1980, and used in French hillclimbs. Later back via Howlings, who may have taken it back when he sold Jumez a Chevron B48, in 1984 to collector Anthony Mayman, then via John Harper and Ted Walker to Peter Williams in 1989. To Andrew Fellowes (Benowa, Queensland, Australia) 2002, then to Ian Rimmer in 2009. Sold by Rimmer to a customer of Damon Milnes in 2020, then sold again by Milnes to Leif Bosson (Helsingborg, Sweden) in 2022.
  15. March 75B [1] (Roy Baker): The original March 75B prototype was sold to Derek Cook (Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, South Yorkshire) and was first raced at the 1974 Boxing Day meeting at Brands Hatch. Raced in the British Formula Atlantic series in 1975. To Roy Baker (Ferndown, Dorset), converted to Formula 2, and raced in the European F2 series and the Shellsport Group 8 series in 1976. To Ted Williams (Bristol), fitted with a 2.2-litre Ford BDA or BDG, and raced (as a "752") in British hillclimbs in 1977. Then fitted with a full F2 Hart 420R for the first half of 1978, before Williams bought a 772. To Bob Bailey and raced in the 1600cc class later in 1978 and again in 1979. To Richard Ames (Alderton, Gloucestershire) later in 1979, and raced by him in 1981 and early 1982, by which time it was in 75/782 specification and fitted with a 2.2-litre Hart 420R engine. Ames advertised the car in May and June 1982 and recalls that he sold it to somebody in Scotland. This must be Harvey Gillanders (Ellon, Scotland) who raced a 2.2-litre "75/782" in Ingliston libre races later in 1982. Subsequent history unknown.
  16. Chevron B29 [29-75-17] (Jim Crawford): New to Peter Williams (Brentwood) and raced in the British Formula Atlantic series in 1975, but crashed at Brands Hatch in April and not seen again that season. Entered by Williams' Coin News for Jim Crawford in early 1976 and then sold to Martin Birrane (Ballina, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland) who raced it in G8 and in Atlantic in 1976 and 1977. To Laurence Jacobsen (Glasgow, Scotland) for 1978, fitted with a Swindon BDX and entered by him for Bryce Wilson in libre that year. Converted back to Atlantic spec and raced by Bryce, Jacobsen and Graham Hamilton in 1979. In 1980, Jacobsen had the monocoque shortened and fitted the car with a plastic Sunbeam Stiletto body and Cosworth BDG engine, and raced it in GT racing in Scotland as a Hillman Imp. The car was later sold to Eric Munnoch who raced it with a 3.5-litre Rover V8 in 1982. For 1983, it was fitted with a supercharger and entered as a Davrian Stiletto. He returned with the car for 1984, but was not seen again after the first race. The tub somehow returned to Jacobsen and was sent to ex-Chevron engineer Nigel Dickson to be repaired, but this job was still incomplete when the monocoque was sold by Jacobsen to Sandy Watson. John Bradshaw remembers buying the remains of this car from Watson some time around 2006, when "it consisted of aluminium folded panels, uprights and wishbones with some instruments and a chassis plate, apparently driven by Bryce Wilson in his teenage years". He sold it on to Colin Thorpe, and in March 2010, HSCC News reported that Thorpe had rebuilt the car, which was not thought to have raced since the 1980s, and it would be raced by his son Ollie Thorpe in 2010. It was later sold by Ollie Thorpe via Ken Thorogood to Clive Wood, and by 2020 it was being rebuilt for Wood by Dan Eagling for historic F2 racing with a Richardson BDG. However, Wood crashed the car at Donington in March 2021 and while it was being repaired bought a March 782.
  17. March 752 [15] (Val Musetti): New to Masami Kuwashima for Formula 2 in 1975, prepared by Roy Kennedy's team in London, and entered by Masami Kuwashima Racing. After just two races, Kuwashima returned to Japan, and the 752 was sold to Tom Walkinshaw.who had it converted by Kennedy to F5000 specification, with the installation of a 3.4-litre Ford V6 engine. Raced by Walkinshaw in the 1975 Shellsport F5000 Championship. To Val Musetti, and raced in Shellsport G8 in 1976 and 1977. Converted to F1 specification for 1978, with a Cosworth DFV engine, and referred to as a 761 that season. Wrecked at Mallory Park in August but rebuilt again for 1979, when it was described as a 771, but wrecked at Zolder at the start of the Aurora season and finally written off.
  18. Ralt RT1/75 [7] (John Wingfield): New to John Wingfield (London NW11), fitted with a Swindon BDG and raced in the F2 events at Silverstone and Zolder in 1975, entered by Marshall-Wingfield Racing. Retained for 1976 when Wingfield used it in Shellsport Group 8 and the MCD Open Single Seater Championship. Later in the season it was raced by Ray Mallock in the F2 races at Hockenheim and Rouen. In September 1976, Wingfield crashed at the Thruxton G8 race, sliding off at Village at hitting the concrete Marshal's post side-on. Wingfield died instantly. The Ralt was severely damaged and it is highly unlikely that it was rebuilt.
  19. GRD 274 [372 036-F3] (Robin Smythe): New to Robin Smythe (Hounslow, Greater London) replacing a March 723 he had raced earlier in the season. Smythe converted the car to Formula Atlantic specification for 1973 and although it was often entered for BP Formula Atlantic events, Smythe's actual race starts were rare. Throughout that season, his older March 723 was raced as a Formula Atlantic by Johnny Dimsdale and by Reg James. In 1974, the GRD was described as a 274 and continued to fail to appear or fail to start championship events, but was a regular starter in Formule Libre events at Silverstone and at Brands Hatch. It was not seen in 1975, but made a couple of entries in ShellSport championship events in 1976, predictably failing to appear. The car is believed to have gone to Dave Saunders in 1976, but that may have been a hire deal, and then later spent time in French hillclimbs before returning to the UK.

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.

Individual sources for this event

Entry numbers come from the program entry list but also from practice and results sheets kindly provided by Tim Barry. Final results are from the organiser's results sheets.