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BP British Formula 3 Championship Race

Donington Park, 7 Jun 1977

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Geoff Brabham Ralt RT1/76 [29] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#35 Brabham Racing Organisation
(see note 1)
20 24m 05.8s
97.47 mph
2 Ian Flux Ralt RT1/76 [16] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#27 Ockley Racing Team Ltd
20 24m 10.0s
3 Stephen South March 763 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#12 Team BP (see note 2)
20 24m 18.6s
4 Derek Daly Chevron B38 [38.77.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#4 Derek McMahon Racing
20 24m 19.6s
5 Derek Warwick Chevron B38 [38.77.05] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#3 Warwick Trailers Ltd
20 24m 25.2s
6 Ian Taylor March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4
#5 Unipart Racing Team (see note 3)
20 24m 25.6s
7 Patrick Gaillard Chevron B38 [37.77.21] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#23 (see note 4)
20 24m 30.0s
8 Tiff Needell March 773 [763-9] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4
#6 Unipart Racing Team (see note 5)
20 24m 31.6s
9 John Bright Wheatcroft R18 [004] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#40 (see note 6)
20 24m 37.8s
10 Ian Grob Chevron B38 [38.77.19] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#24 Docking Racing (see note 7)
20 24m 43.6s
UNK James King March 773 [U2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#7 March Racing Ltd (see note 8)

UNK Eje Elgh Chevron B38 [38.77.10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#1 Chevron Racing Team

UNK Thorkild Thyrring Chevron B38 [38.77.18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#22 Chevron Racing Team (see note 9)

UNK Ian Ashley Lola T570 [HU1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#29 Lola Cars Ltd

UNK Aryon Cornelsen Filho March 773 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#9 March Racing Ltd (see note 10)

UNK Philippe Colonna Chevron B38 [38.77.24] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#25 Docking Racing (see note 11)

UNK Chris Farrell Chevron B38 [38.77.02] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#26 (see note 12)

UNK Pierre Dieudonné Ehrlich ES5 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#33 Dr Joseph Ehrlich

UNK Brett Riley March 773 [10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#10 AFMP Euroracing with March GB
(see note 13)

UNK Mario Pati March 773 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#11 Automovel Clube Paulista Charly SA Euroracing March

UNK Ivor Jones March 743 [U10] - Ford twin cam Richardson
#19 British Island Airways Racing

UNK Richard Jones March 753 [743-24] - Triumph Dolomite 4

UNK Wyatt Stanley March 753 [14] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
(see note 14)

DNA Geoff Lees Chevron B38 [38.77.09] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#2 Chevron Racing Team (see note 15)
Did not arrive
DNA Mario Ferraris March 773 [U1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#8 March Racing Ltd (see note 16)
Did not arrive
DNA George Aposkitis Lola T570 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#38
Did not arrive
DNA Rad Dougall Technik TT773 [1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#39 The Toleman Group
Did not arrive

All cars are 2-litre F3 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Ian Flux (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [16] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.2s
2 James King (F3) 2-litre March 773 [U2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.2s
3 John Bright (F3) 2-litre Wheatcroft R18 [004] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.4s
4 Eje Elgh (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.4s
5 Geoff Brabham (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [29] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 17.8s
6 Derek Warwick (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.05] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 18.0s
7 Stephen South (F3) 2-litre March 763 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 18.8s
8 Derek Daly (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 18.8s
9 Patrick Gaillard (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [37.77.21] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 19.4s
10 Ian Taylor (F3) 2-litre March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4 1m 19.6s
11 Ian Grob (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.19] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 19.6s
12 Thorkild Thyrring (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
13 Tiff Needell (F3) 2-litre March 773 [763-9] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4
14 Ian Ashley (F3) 2-litre Lola T570 [HU1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 20.4s
15 Aryon Cornelsen Filho (F3) 2-litre March 773 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 20.6s
16 Philippe Colonna (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.24] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 20.8s
17 Chris Farrell (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.02] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 20.8s
18 Pierre Dieudonné (F3) 2-litre Ehrlich ES5 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 21.8s
19 Brett Riley (F3) 2-litre March 773 [10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 22.0s
20 Mario Pati (F3) 2-litre March 773 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 23.6s
21 Ivor Jones (F3) 2-litre March 743 [U10] - Ford twin cam Richardson 1m 24.8s
22 Richard Jones (F3) 2-litre March 753 [743-24] - Triumph Dolomite 4 1m 25.2s
23 Wyatt Stanley (F3) 2-litre March 753 [14] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 35.8s

Notes on the cars:

  1. Ralt RT1/76 [29] (Geoff Brabham): Ralt records show as sold to Geoff Brabham in 1976, probably being delivered in early June. Used by him until the end of 1978 then sold to Ken Thorogood's Hub of the Universe Racing for Osamu Hatagawa to use in British races.
  2. March 763 [13] (Stephen South): March build records show sold to John Stokes, 19 May 1976. Run by Stokes for Stephen South from mid 1976, until wrecked in an accident with Derek Daly in the 1977 British GP support race and scrapped. Some parts used in the construction of 773-T1, South's replacement car.
  3. March 773 [3] (Ian Taylor): 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.
  4. Chevron B38 [37.77.21] (Patrick Gaillard): New to Patrick Gaillard for British F3 in 1977. Sold to Jean-Louis Schlesser for European F3 in 1978, and run by him for KWS Motorsport. Sold to Bernard Birbés for French F3 and French hillclimbs (using a 1600cc Toyota engine) in 1979. To André Argeliès and run in French hillclimbs with a 1300cc Ford engine in 1981 and 1982. By 1987, this car had returned to England as was being raced in TF3 by Ian Jacobs.
  5. March 773 [763-9] (Tiff Needell): Shown in March records as sold to Tony Dron 12.1.76. This was the solitary Unipart car in 1976. Although Unipart ran two cars in 1977, they only bought one new car, converting the older car for Needell, the junior driver in the team. Some results credit Needell's car as being a 763.
  6. Wheatcroft R18 [004] (John Bright): New to John Bright (Leicester) and built up with a Toyota Novamotor engine for British F3 in 1977. In early July, Bright spent a day testing at Silverstone with Brian Henton and Mike Pilbeam, and the following Friday he won from pole in a non-championship race at Donington Park. Unfortunately, two days later during practice at Cadwell Park he put a wheel into the gravel going into the Gooseneck curves and crashed very heavily. The car was described as being "completely destroyed". He returned at Donington Park three weeks later with the car described as "rebuilt", but it seems very likely that this was the point at which the car was rebuilt on the 006 chassis, so its history is continued under that heading.
  7. Chevron B38 [38.77.19] (Ian Grob): New to Alan Docking Racing for Ian Grob to race in British F3 in 1977, entered by KVG Racing. Retained by the Docking team for 1978, and probably the car driven by Huub Rothengatter in the last few months of the season. Unknown after 1979 until it reappeared with Jim Yardley in 1984. Later with David Proctor in 1987.
  8. March 773 [U2] (James King): March works records show this as James King's works car for 1977 built on a lightweight tub AM773-41 with parts from 763-U2. This would be the "ex-King" car sold to Ian Flux early in 1978, and raced by him in the 1978 British F3 series.
  9. Chevron B38 [38.77.18] (Thorkild Thyrring): New to Chevron Racing Team for Thorkild Thyrring to race in British F3 in 1977, entered by Marlboro Jockey Todenskjold. Borrowed by Jim Crawford for a race at Mallory Park in September, and by Divina Galica for a race at Thruxton. Raced by Crawford again at the start of 1978 but wrecked in an accident at Thruxton at the end of March. Salageable parts were used in a new Chevron B43.
  10. March 773 [13] (Aryon Cornelsen Filho): Shown in March records as a works car finished February 1977, on tub AM773-28 for Ayron Cornelson Filho. Also used by David Kennedy in 1977. Sold to John Bright in March 1978 to cover for his damaged Wheatcroft. Damaged badly by Bright and rebuilt on new tub in August. Retained by Bright in 1979 until wrecked at Snetterton.
  11. Chevron B38 [38.77.24] (Philippe Colonna): New to Alan Docking Racing for Philippe Colonna to race in British F3 in 1977. Retained by the Docking team for 1978, and raced by Philip Bullman and by Colonna in British F3. Unknown in 1979 but purchased by Eddie Heasell in early 1980 for British F3 and libre. Retained for libre in 1981.
  12. Chevron B38 [38.77.02] (Chris Farrell): New to Chris Farrell for British F3 in 1977. To Barry Green for 1979, and run for him in British F3 by Fred Opert Racing. Last used by Green in July 1978, and then unknown until seen with Mike Brown in Sprints in 1984 …
  13. March 773 [10] (Brett Riley): According to March records delivered in March 1977 to AFMP Euroracing, and subsequently given to Brett Riley in lieu of his contractual payments when the Euroracing set-up was dissolved. (This does not mean the car was Riley’s early season car in 1977; he used at least two before the team collapsed, neither of which were necessarily this car.) Run by David Price for Riley in the second half of 1977 and used to win the European round at Donington. Chassis number given in Autosport advert late in 1977 by Price. Sold to Roy Kennedy [Motoring News 2 Mar 1978 p15] although Autosport 9 Mar 1978 p41 says the car is ‘ex James King’. (King used a works car - 773-U2 - for most of 1977 but it is possible he had a race in this car early in the season, however his principal car went in 1978 to Ian Flux.) Run by Kennedy for Saed Ali Hodzic until Hodzic was injured in practice at the International Trophy support race; then became a rental car but did very few races. For sale by Kennedy in early 1979, Autosport 22 Feb 1979 p57, but retained and rented to Serge Saulnier for the 1979 race at Monaco.
  14. March 753 [14] (Wyatt Stanley): Originally a car belonging to the B&O team in 1975, when used by Pierre Dieudonné. Chassis number for this car and its sister, driven by Hervé Regout, observed by AF at Oulton Park 4 October 1975. Sold to Ken Silverstone for the 1976 season [Autosport 2 Sep 1976 p33 says his car is ‘ex Dieudonné.) To Wyatt Stanley in mid 1977 and retained by him for the 1978 season.
  15. Chevron B38 [38.77.09] (Geoff Lees): To Chevron Racing Team for Geoff Lees to race in British F3 in 1977. Rebuilt on new monocoque 38-77-31 in time for Thruxton in June, where it was described as a brand new. Unknown after 1977 but may have gone to Japan where Koichi Sakamoto raced a Chevron B38 for most of 1978.
  16. March 773 [U1] (Mario Ferraris): March works records show this as Mario Ferraris' works car for 1977 built on tub AM773-14 and rebuilt after Ferraris' Monaco accident on tub AM773-65. Sold in March 1978 to Neasrader Film Production for Richard Morgan according to the works records. Motoring News 30 Mar 1978 p11 says that Morgan's car is ex King, but we know from reports and the works records that King's main car was 773-U2. However, that car was damaged in the 1977 season and it is possible that King used 773-U1 after its rebuild as Ferraris' damaged wrist took longer to recover than the car did. Sold to John Bright in 1979 to replace his wrecked 773-13 and its identity eventually perhaps blurred with that car in a rebuild after a heavy accident.

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

Programme provided by Duncan Rabagliati.