French Formula 3 1982

Dave Price Racing continued with a French operation in 1982, running a new Novamotor-powered Ralt RT3/82 for Pierre Petit as well as a VW-powered Ralt for Martin Brundle in England. Petit's choice of car was decisive, as the new ground-effect Martini MK37 could not match the pace of the well-developed Ralt. At the first race, Petit had an advantage of over a second a lap in qualifying over the massed ranks of MK37s, and ran out an easy winner. He lost out by a narrow margin to Patrick Gonin at Lédenon, but struck back to beat Gonin at Norago and Albi. He even outqualified a visiting Brundle at Dijon, winning again after the Englishman crashed out. Petit then moved to a new VW-powered Ralt, but did not have it all his own way in the last four races, Bernard Santal proving very effective in Petit's original car.

Michel Ferté won the final race in his Marlboro-backed ORECA Martini MK37 to grab second place in the championship, from Philippe Hesnault who had swapped his private Martini for a one-year-old Ralt and won at Albi in September. These two would start 1983 as favourites, Hesnault with Dave Price Racing and Ferté continuing with ORECA.

The races

14 Mar 1982 > Paul Ricard

04 Apr 1982 > GP de Nîmes at Circuit de Lédenon

11 Apr 1982 > Nogaro

25 Apr 1982 > Albi

02 May 1982 > Trophée Jean Bernigaud at Magny Cours

16 May 1982 > Trophée de Bourgogne at Dijon-Prenois

06 Jun 1982 > Trophée d'Arras at Croix-en-Ternois

13 Jun 1982 > Rouen-les-Essarts

18 Jul 1982 > Grand Prix de La Châtre

25 Jul 1982 > Grand Prix de France support race at Paul Ricard

05 Sep 1982 > Grand Prix de Nogaro

26 Sep 1982 > Albi

10 Oct 1982 > Croix-en-Ternois

1982 Championnat de France de Formule 3 table

Points table constructed by Pascal Katabian at the International Race Results and Data Association.