OldRacingCars.com

BP British Formula 3 Championship Race

Donington Park, 16 Oct 1977

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Derek Daly Chevron B38 [38.77.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#4 Derek McMahon Racing
15 17m 54.8s
98.34 mph
2 Geoff Brabham Ralt RT1/76 [29] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#35 Brabham Racing Organisation
(see note 1)
15 17m 56.6s
3 Stephen South March 773 [T1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#12 Team BP
15 18m 01.7s
4 Eje Elgh Chevron B38 [38.77.10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#1 Plastic Padding Chevron Racing Team
15 18m 09.8s
5 James King March 773 [U2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#7 March Racing Ltd (see note 2)
15 18m 10.3s
6 Mario Pati Ralt RT1/77 [77] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#20 Automovel Clube Paulista
15 18m 13.4s
7 David Kennedy Argo JM1 [001-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#51 Anglia Cars Ltd
15 18m 14.8s
8 Aryon Cornelsen Filho March 773 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#9 March Racing Ltd (see note 3)
15 18m 15.8s
9 Brett Riley March 773 [10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#54 David Price Racing (see note 4)
15 18m 24.6s
10 Ian Taylor March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4
#5 Unipart Racing Team (see note 5)
15 18m 31.4s
11 Ian Flux Ralt RT1/76 [16] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#27 Ockley Team Racing
15 18m 32.1s
12 Patrick Gaillard Chevron B38 [37.77.21] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#23 (see note 6)
15 18m 32.2s
13 Thorkild Thyrring Chevron B38 [38.77.18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#22 Chevron Racing Team (see note 7)

14 Rad Dougall Chevron B38 [38.77.05] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#60 Toleman Group

15 Ian Grob Chevron B38 [38.77.19] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#24 Docking Racing (see note 8)

R Nigel Mansell Lola T570 [HU1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#59 McKechnie Racing
Collision with Colonna
R Derek Warwick Ralt RT1/77 [86] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#3 Warwick Trailers
0 Misfire
UNK Jorge Caton Ralt RT1/77 [58] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#16 Equipo Nacional Espanol

UNK Geoff Lees Chevron B38 [38.77.09-2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#2 Chevron Racing Team (see note 9)

UNK Tiff Needell March 773 [763-9] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4
#6 Unipart Racing Team (see note 10)

UNK Philippe Colonna Chevron B38 [38.77.24] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#25 Docking Racing (see note 11)
Spun, hit by Mansell
UNK Huub Rothengatter March 763 [11] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#63

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

UNK Riccardo Galiano Ralt RT1/77 [57] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#17 Equipo Nationale Espanol

DNQ Richard Jones March 753/773 [743-24] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#21
Did not qualify
DNQ Giordano Regazzoni March 753 [U22] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#44 Docking Racing (see note 13)
Did not qualify
DNQ Jorge Koechlin Argo JM1 [003-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#50 Anglia Cars Ltd
Did not qualify
DNA Les Duncan March 753 [9] - Ford twin cam Neil Brown
#15 Nucan Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Richard Morgan Anson F3 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#61 Anson Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Phil Silverstone Ralt RT1/77 [54] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#34
Did not arrive
DNA John Stokes Chevron B38 [38.77.25] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#36 Bogarts of Birmingham (see note 14)
Did not arrive
DNA Geoff Smailes March 773 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#56
Did not arrive
DNA Anders Olofsson Ralt RT1/77 [56] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#58 (see note 15)
Did not arrive

All cars are 2-litre F3 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Geoff Brabham (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [29] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.0s
2 Derek Daly (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.3s
3 Derek Warwick (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/77 [86] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.4s
4 Mario Pati (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/77 [77] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.4s
5 Stephen South (F3) 2-litre March 773 [T1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.4s
6 Philippe Colonna (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.24] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.6s
7 Ian Flux (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [16] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.7s
8 James King (F3) 2-litre March 773 [U2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.7s
9 Huub Rothengatter (F3) 2-litre March 763 [11] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.8s
10 Eje Elgh (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.8s
11 David Kennedy (F3) 2-litre Argo JM1 [001-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 11.9s
12 Ian Taylor (F3) 2-litre March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4 1m 12.1s
13 Aryon Cornelsen Filho (F3) 2-litre March 773 [13] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.2s
14 Brett Riley (F3) 2-litre March 773 [10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.3s
15 Thorkild Thyrring (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.18] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.5s
16 Geoff Lees (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.09-2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.7s
17 Tiff Needell (F3) 2-litre March 773 [763-9] - Triumph Dolomite Holbay 4 1m 12.7s
18 Chris Farrell (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.02] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.7s
19 Ian Grob (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.19] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.7s
20 Riccardo Galiano (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/77 [57] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1m 12.8s
21 Jorge Caton (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/77 [58] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
22 Nigel Mansell (F3) 2-litre Lola T570 [HU1] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
23 Rad Dougall (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [38.77.05] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
24 Patrick Gaillard (F3) 2-litre Chevron B38 [37.77.21] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
25 Richard Jones * (F3) 2-litre March 753/773 [743-24] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
26 Jorge Koechlin * (F3) 2-litre Argo JM1 [003-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
27 Giordano Regazzoni * (F3) 2-litre March 753 [U22] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
 
* Did not start

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 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Chevron B38 [38.77.09-2] (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.
  10. 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.
  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 753 [U22] (Giordano Regazzoni): According to the March build records constructed in 1975 from discarded parts of works cars 753-U1 and 763-U1 for Giordano ‘Dodo’ Regazzoni. Probably used by the works drivers Nilsson and Ribeiro at Cadwell Park and the British GP support race in July 1975, with this car built as temporary replacement for Nilsson’s 753-U1 rolled at the Monza Lotteria in late June. Retained by Regazzoni into 1978. Motoring News 16 Mar 1978 p7 comments that Regazzoni is still using last year’s car.
  14. Chevron B38 [38.77.25] (John Stokes): New to John Stokes (Birmingham) and raced in British F3 in 1977, sponsored by Bogarts of Birmingham. Retained for 1978 and rented by Philippe Colonna for the Zolder F3 in Zolder after Colonna had wrecked his ex-Stephen South March at Zeltweg. Then raced again by Stokes until the end of August.
  15. Ralt RT1/77 [56] (Anders Olofsson): New to Anders Olofsson for 1977 according to Ralt records, and raced by him in European and Swedish F3 with backing from Puss o Kram Jeans. Retained by Olofsson for 1978, now as Strike Up Racing Team. To Pomeroy Racing Team for 1979, when it was raced by Olofsson and by Björn Ohlsson. Raced by Hans Edvinsson in 1980.

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 20 Oct 1977 pp18-19; programme provided by Duncan Rabagliati