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Forward Trust Formula Three Championship

Thruxton, 5 Aug 1973

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Michel Leclère Alpine A364 [3649] - Renault R16 Dudot
#61 Alpine Renault
10 15m 21.4s
92.05 mph
2 Christian Ethuin Martini MK12 [004] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#57 Motul Defense Mondiale
10 15m 45.6s
3 Alain Serpaggi Alpine A364 [3648] - Renault R16 Dudot
#62 Alpine Renault
10 15m 46.6s
4 Russell Wood March 733 [3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#2 The Chequered Flag (see note 1)
10 15m 49.6s
5 Leonel Friedrich March 733 [13] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#9 (see note 2)
10 15m 53.2s
6 Jean-Pierre Paoli Martini MK12 [007?] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#2 BP Racing
10 16m 00.4s
7 Pierre-François Rousselot March 733 [22] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#10 Ecurie Elf March
10 16m 09.2s
8 Masami Kuwashima March 733 [18] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#5 Reystan Racing
10 16m 10.0s
9 Ian Taylor March 733 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#1 Chris Andrews
10 16m 11.4s
10 Bernard Béguin Martini MK12 [002] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#53 Ecurie "Volant Shell"
10 16m 24.4s
11 Nicholas von Preussen March 733 [12] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#20 P&M Racing Preparations Ltd
10 16m 30.4s
12 Giorgio Francia Brabham BT41 - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#63 Scuderia Mirabella Mille Miglia
10 16m 45.0s
13 Philippe Albera March 733 [23?] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#17 Ecurie Antar March
10 16m 53.4s
14 Brian Henton GRD 373 [059-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#38
10 16m 54.6s
15 Ole Vejlund Ensign LNF3/72 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#79
9 15m 34.2s
16 Bernard Chevanne Martini MK12 [006] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#60 Ecurie Volant Shell
9 15m 36.6s
17 Jimmy Fuller Brabham BT38C [19] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#74 A.D.M. Business Systems Ltd
(see note 3)
9 16m 12.0s
18 S.N. (Norman) Moffett GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#46 (see note 4)
9 17m 04.2s
19 Spencer Elton Ensign LNF3/72 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#82 (see note 5)
8 15m 54.4s
R Jacques Laffite Martini MK12 [005?] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#52 BP Racing
6
R Tony Rouff GRD 373 [050-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#31
5 Accident avoiding spinning Fuller
R Matt Spitzley March 733 [7] - Ford twin cam Brown
#22
5
R Richard Robarts GRD 373 [053-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#32 Myson Racing with GRD
4 Accident at Cobb
R Larry Perkins Brabham BT41 [31] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#72 Team Cowangie
2
R Mike Wilds March 733 [26] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#3 Dempster International Racing Team
(see note 6)
0 Accident at Club; gearbox seized
R Tony Brise March 733 [21] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#4 Team Kent Messenger Racing
0 Accident at Club; hit Wilds
R John MacDonald GRD 373 [372 025-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#37 (see note 7)
0 Accident at Club avoiding Wilds and Brise
DNSF Jean Ragnotti March 733 [24] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#18 Ecurie Antar March
Did not start final
DNSF Mo Harness March 733 [25] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#6 Team Modus Racing with Shellsport
Did not start final
DNSF Johnny Gerber Brabham BT41 [11] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#71 Ippokampos Racing (see note 8)
Did not start final
DNSF Jeremy Gambs GRD 373 [070-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#41
Did not start final
DNSF José Espírito Santo March 733 [6] - Ford twin cam Mohr
#19
Did not start final
DNQH Roelof Wunderink Ensign LNF3/71 [71.2] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#81
Did not qualify from heats
DNQH Mike Catlow Elden Mk12 [68/12001/72] - Ford twin cam
#91 Mitford Group-Team Elden
Did not qualify from heats
DNS Buzz Buzaglo March 733 [723-1] - Ford twin cam
#15
Did not start
DNS Carlo Giorgio March 733 - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#12 Trivellato Racing Team (see note 9)
Did not start
DNS Mike Tyrrell MRE Mk2 [P.1.73] - Ford twin cam
#86 Marc Gregory Property Developers
Did not start
DNA Max Bonnin March 733 - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#7 Nota Interim (see note 10)
Did not arrive
DNA Paolo Bozzetto March 733 - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#11 Trivellato (see note 11)
Did not arrive
DNA Alan Jones GRD 373 [060-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#27 DART Racing with GRD
Did not arrive
DNA TBA GRD 373 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#29 GRS International
Did not arrive
DNA Roger Craven GRD 372 [024-F3] - Ford twin cam Penistan
#35 L&K Racing Team (see note 12)
Did not arrive
DNA TBA Brabham BT41 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#73 A.W. Brown Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Frank Scurria Ensign LNF3/72 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#83
Did not arrive
DNA Bernard Vermillio Merlyn Mk 21B [445/F3/73] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#85 (see note 13)
Did not arrive
DNA Walter Neubauer Tecno 69/F3 [T00346] - Ford twin cam Mohr
#93
Did not arrive
DNA "Teleco" March 733 [15] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#8 Angeleri March Racing Brasil
Did not arrive
DNA Willi Sommer March 723 - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#16 Reifag Racing Team (see note 14)
Did not arrive
DNA Pedro Passadore GRD 373 [060-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#28 DART Racing with GRD
Did not arrive
DNA Barrie Maskell GRD 373 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#36 GRS International
Did not arrive
DNA Alain Cudini Martini MK12 [001] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
#56 Ecurie Elf
Did not arrive
DNA Max Jean ("Jean Max") Martini MK12 [003] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#58 Motul la Defense Mondiale
Did not arrive
DNA Val Musetti Royale RP11A [6] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#88 (see note 15)
Did not arrive

All cars are 1.6-litre F3 unless noted.

Heat 1 Laps Time Speed
1Mike Wilds150.23.46.089.22 mph
2Christian Ethuin150.23.46.4
3Michel Leclère150.23.47.4
4Leonel Friedrich150.23.53.6
5Jean-Pierre Paoli150.23.58.8
6Ian Taylor150.23.13.4
7Johnny Gerber150.24.31.8
8Masami Kuwashima150.24.33.4
9Bernard Béguin150.24.41.6
10Tony Rouff150.25.00.2
11John MacDonald150.25.01.0
12Giorgio Francia150.25.08.8
13Philippe Albera150.25.21.8
14Ole Vejlund150.25.23.2
15Jeremy Gambs140.24.55.4
16José Espírito Santo130.23.52.2
17Roelof Wunderink130.24.12.6
Mike Catlow9Damaged wheel
Max Bonnindid not arrive
Paolo Bozzettodid not arrive
Alan Jonesdid not arrive
TBAdid not arrive
Roger Cravendid not arrive
TBAdid not arrive
Frank Scurriadid not arrive
Bernard Vermilliodid not arrive
Buzz BuzagloDid not start (Engine)
Walter NeubauerDNA: Engines in testing
Heat 2 Laps Time Speed
1Russell Wood70.11.59.283.34 mph
2Pierre-François Rousselot70.12.12.8
3Jean Ragnotti70.12.32.6
4Alain Serpaggi70.12.35.2
5Tony Brise70.12.37.2
6Mo Harness70.12.42.0
7Richard Robarts70.12.44.6
8Jacques Laffite70.12.52.4
9Nicholas von Preussen70.12.53.0
10Brian Henton70.12.56.2
11Larry Perkins70.13.19.4
12Jimmy Fuller60.12.08.0
13Bernard Chevanne60.12.15.2
14S.N. (Norman) Moffett60.12.33.2
15Matt Spitzley60.12.36.0
16Spencer Elton60.13.15.8
Willi Sommerdid not arrive
Mike TyrrellDid not start (Fuel system)
Val Musettidid not arrive
Max Jean ("Jean Max")did not arrive
Alain Cudinidid not arrive
Barrie Maskelldid not arrive
Pedro PassadoreDNA: Loaned car to Henton
"Teleco"did not arrive
Carlo GiorgioDid not start (Engine)
Qualifying
1 Mike Wilds (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [26] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
2 Russell Wood (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
3 Christian Ethuin (F3) 1.6-litre Martini MK12 [004] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
4 Pierre-François Rousselot (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [22] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
5 Michel Leclère (F3) 1.6-litre Alpine A364 [3649] - Renault R16 Dudot
6 Jean Ragnotti (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [24] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
7 Leonel Friedrich (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [13] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
8 Alain Serpaggi (F3) 1.6-litre Alpine A364 [3648] - Renault R16 Dudot
9 Jean-Pierre Paoli (F3) 1.6-litre Martini MK12 [007?] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
10 Tony Brise (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [21] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
11 Ian Taylor (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 - Ford twin cam Holbay
12 Mo Harness (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [25] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
13 Johnny Gerber (F3) 1.6-litre Brabham BT41 [11] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
14 Richard Robarts (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [053-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
15 Masami Kuwashima (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [18] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
16 Jacques Laffite (F3) 1.6-litre Martini MK12 [005?] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
17 Bernard Béguin (F3) 1.6-litre Martini MK12 [002] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
18 Nicholas von Preussen (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [12] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
19 Tony Rouff (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [050-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
20 Brian Henton (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [059-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
21 John MacDonald (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [372 025-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
22 Larry Perkins (F3) 1.6-litre Brabham BT41 [31] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
23 Giorgio Francia (F3) 1.6-litre Brabham BT41 - Ford twin cam Novamotor
24 Jimmy Fuller (F3) 1.6-litre Brabham BT38C [19] - Ford twin cam Holbay
25 Philippe Albera (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [23?] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
26 Bernard Chevanne (F3) 1.6-litre Martini MK12 [006] - Ford twin cam Holbay R73
27 Ole Vejlund (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3/72 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
28 S.N. (Norman) Moffett (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay
29 Jeremy Gambs (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [070-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
30 Matt Spitzley (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [7] - Ford twin cam Brown
31 José Espírito Santo (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [6] - Ford twin cam Mohr
32 Spencer Elton (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3/72 - Ford twin cam Vegantune

Notes on the cars:

  1. March 733 [3] (Russell Wood): New to Russell Wood and run for him in the British F3 series by Peter Bloore Racing with backing from The Chequered Flag. Wood won three early round of the championship but had a heavy accident at Zandvoort in May and did not win again. Sold to Australian Ian Douglass for 1974 and rebuilt for Australian F2, using various 742 bits. The car was involved in a fire during private testing at Oran Park after the Lakeside race in December 1974 and was completely burnt to the ground.
  2. March 733 [13] (Leonel Friedrich): New to Brazilian driver Leonel Friedrich (Porto Alegre, Brazil) and run for him by Peter Bloore Racing in the 1973 British Formula 3 season. Friedrich had not sat in a single-seater racing car before, but was the 1972 1600cc class Brazilian Touring Car Champion. For a novice, he was impressively quick straight away, eighth fastest in practice at his first race, and finishing second four times in his first dozen F3 races. His March was fitted with Holbay engines except for a brief mid-season flirtation with Novamotors. The car was then hired to another young Brazilian Alex Dias Ribeiro, and run for him by Angeleri March Racing Brazil in two races at the very end of the season. Subsequent history unknown.
  3. Brabham BT38C [19] (Jimmy Fuller): New to Canadian driver Chris O'Brien and raced in British F3 in 1972 using Holbay engines. To Jimmy Fuller for 1973, again in British F3 and again using Holbay engines. Advertised by Fuller from Sunbury-on-Thames as a "BT38/41" with two rebuilt Novamotor twin-cams, a spare monocoque and bodywork for £2,250 in November 1973. Formula 3 changed to 2000cc for 1974, and the BT38C was sold to David Taylor (Formy, Lancashire, later Merseyside) for Kim Mather to race in British Formula Atlantic in 1974. When the car first appeared, it had a RES BDA engine and still used F3 wheels, Mather recalling that he "just dropped a BDA in it". By the end of May it had a Richardson BDA and wider wheels, but it was still far off the pace of the leading cars, and this turned out to be its last Atlantic race. Taylor also used the car in sprints at Longridge, and Mather won two libre races at Aintree. Taylor advertised the car in September, complete with Richardson BDA, for £2,200 and sold it to Ted Payne (Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham). Payne had raced a BT38 earlier in the season with a Vegantune engine, but it appears he had sold that car and had bought Taylor's very similar one with its Richardson engine. Payne continued to race the car in 1975, and entry lists show that it was black with a Richardson engine, and generally entered as a BT38-40. It was advertised by Payne in November 1975 as a BT38/40 with a recently rebuilt Cosworth BDA engine, and with a spare monocoque. It was bought by Andrew Wareing (Kirkham, Fylde, Lancashire), whose recollection is that it came from Joe Applegarth, but Applegarth says he never owned a BT38. Wareing used it in sprints and libre in 1976. He advertised it in September 1976 as a BT38/40 with BDA engine, 10" and 14" wheels and a spare tub, and recalls that it went to a family of hillclimbers, father and sons. This must be John Hart (East Dulwich, London), who after hillclimbing a Brabham BT18 in 1976, transferred its Cosworth FVA engine into a Brabham BT38 for 1977. Hart recalls buying the BT38 in the Isle of Man, but it is quite plausible that the car had acquired an Isle of Man event sticker if Wareing had competed in one of the Longton & DCC events on the island. Hart raced this car in hillclimbs and sprints through 1977, being joined by his son Greg later that season. The pair retained the BT38 for 1978 but Greg wrecked it in a major accident at Shelsley Walsh in August, which he was lucky to escape. The car was briskly rebuilt using a BT40 monocoque acquired from MRD and raced again at Gurston Down just two weeks later. The car was renamed 'Hart JG79' for 1979, fitted with a 1600cc Richardson FVA and raced by Greg and John in 1979 and 1980. Doug Hart recalls that the BT40 was sold to Paul Squires, "who sadly died at a young age and before he finished the car". Subsequent history unknown.
  4. GRD 372 (S.N. (Norman) Moffett): After struggling with his March 723 in British F3 early in 1973, Roger Williamson swapped to a GRD 372 in mid-April. The car was provided by his sponsor Tom Wheatcroft, and the car he first raced was described as the development model when Williamson tested it briefly at Snetterton. Autosport said he drove the development car on his GRD debut at Silverstone's International Trophy, but Motoring News noticed that GRD had managed to produce his new car ahead of schedule. With mechanics Eric Hassel and Nick Jordan, and using Holbay engines, Williamson won on his debut in the car. He also raced the new car at Monaco, but flew back to race the "original GRD prototype previously raced by Sutcliffe" at Silverstone the next day. At Oulton Park in August he had a huge accident in practice, so the team built up the ex-Sutcliffe prototype for him to race. Presumably he raced the prototype at the next two races, over that same Bank Holiday weekend, before returning to his regular car for the races in September and October. He won ten races in total to take the BRSCC/Shell F3 title. The car was then sold to Norman Moffett (Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland) who raced it in British F3 through 1973. It was advertised by Moffets Car Sales (Belfast, Northern Ireland) in December 1973. Subsequent history unknown.
  5. Ensign LNF3/72 (Spencer Elton): New to Jeremy Gambs and raced in British F3 in 1972. Loaned to Alan McKechnie for Bob Evans at one race, and also raced by Gambs girlfriend Lorina Boughton, and by Reg James during that season. Sold to hillclimber Spencer Elton (Westbury, Wiltshire) for 1973 and raced in some F3 races. To David Way (Melksham, Wiltshire), fitted with a 1098cc Holbay engine and run in hillclimbs and sprints in 1974 in the 1100cc racing car class. Way bought the Cosworth FVA engine and Hewland FT200 gearbox from Gordon Brooks' wrecked Lotus 69 and fitted it to the Ensign for 1975. He raced it in this form up to 1979. Then sold to somebody in Dursley, thought to be Pete Morys, and then to Josie Tolhurst. For sale by Lenham Racing in 1986. Subsequent history unknown.
  6. March 733 [26] (Mike Wilds): New to Dempster International Racing Team for Mike Wilds to drive in F3 from July 1973 onwards, replacing the 1972/73 Ensign with which he had started the season. It was then sold to Graham Watts (Faringham) for hillclimbs, appearing at Prescott in March 1974, when the car had a 1600cc Holbay engine. During 1975, the car was bought by Terry Smith (Felton, Somerset) to replace his highly successful 1-litre Vixen Imp. Smith raced the March in sprints and hillclimbs through the rest of 1975 and through 1976, using a 1600cc Holbay Ford twin cam engine, but in the summer of 1976, bought the ex-F1 McLaren M14D. The March was sold to Geoff Hunt (Andover, Hampshire), again with the Holbay twin cam, and used in sprints for quite a few years. Eventually traded to Richard Speakman for the ex-F3 Pilbeam MP51. Subsequent history unknown.
  7. GRD 373 [372 025-F3] (John MacDonald): New to Reystan Racing Ltd for Masami Kuwashima to drive in British F3 in 1972, using Holbay engines. To John MacDonald for British F3 in 1973, when it was described as being the remains of Kuwashima's 1972 car built up around a new tub. Raced until October 1973, when it was said to have been sold to Ireland. Subsequent history unknown.
  8. Brabham BT41 [11] (Johnny Gerber): Initially a Motor Racing Developments entry for Tony Trimmer in 1973, then becoming an Ippokampos Racing entry for Johnny Gerber until August 1973. Not seen again.
  9. March 733 (Carlo Giorgio): Carlo Giorgio raced a March 733 in the 1973 Italian F3 series, entered by Scuderia Jolly Club in the first three races, and then by Trivellato Racing Team up to the end of the season.
  10. March 733 (Max Bonnin): New to Max Bonnin at some point during the 1973 Formula 3 season. Sold during 1974 to Luis Maria de Almenara Juandò (Barcelona, Spain), who raced it at Magione in September 1974. Then rebuilt as a March 732 for Formula 2 in 1975, using an ex-Alpine Hart BDA engine. De Almenara raced the car at five races in Formula 2 in 1975, but failed to qualify for four of them. He also ran it at the Carrera en Cuesta a la Rabassada hillclimb in Spain in October 1975, finishing second. A photograph of the car at Rabassada shows it wearing works-style 742 bodywork with side radiators, and the rollhoop casing cut down as happened to the 752s early in the 1975 season. Subsequent history unknown.
  11. March 733 (Paolo Bozzetto): Paolo Bozzetto raced a March 733 in the 1973 Italian F3 series, starting from Casale at the end of April and running up to the end of the season. He was entered by Trivellato Racing Team.
  12. GRD 372 [024-F3] (Roger Craven): Entered by GRS International for Andy Sutcliffe for a few races in British F3 in April 1972, using Holbay engines. Then entered for young Portuguese driver Jorge Pinhol for the rest of the season, but he often failed to appear and may have only been at eight races, starting as few as three. Pinhol's car had been announced in early February, but he did not appear until the end of April. His last definite appearance was at Thruxon on 6 August but his entries continued until the start of October. The car was then run for Formula Ford star Johnny Gerber as an Ippokampos Racing entry but run by GRS International at Brands Hatch on 22 October 1972. The ex-Pinhol car went to Roger Craven (Lincoln) for British F3 in 1973, using RES and Vegantune engines. Also used by Craven very successfully in libre racing that season. It was advertised by Craven's entrant, L & K Racing Team (Lincoln) with a Neil Brown engine in November 1973 and from the same Lincoln telephone numbers in February 1974. Subsequent history unknown.
  13. Merlyn Mk 21B [445/F3/73] (Bernard Vermillio): New to Bernard Vermillio for British F3 in 1973, but he failed to arrive for most of his races and had a poor season. The car was acquired from from Vermilio by Gordon Smiley (Mirriam, Kansas) who had come to England to race a works Merlyn Mk 25 in Formula Ford, and the Mk 21 was converted for him to also race in the Formula Atlantic series. His only race in the Mk 21 was in the Brands Hatch race in mid-March supporting the Race of Champions. He crashed during the very wet race and according to Clive Hayward, he "stuffed it pretty thoroughly". Smiley moved to the Elden F3 team.
  14. March 723 (Willi Sommer): Willi Sommer (Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, West Germany) raced a March 723 in German and European F3 in 1972. It was sometimes described as an Eifelland, but more generally as a March, and was entered by Reifag Racing Team, Darmstadt. Sommer did not race in the early part of 1973, but raced the 723 at Hockenheim in July 1973. He was entered for two British races but did not appear, and then went to a race at Zolder on 26 August where he was not allowed to practice as his Wagenpass was out of date. He drove from Zolder to a hillclimb at Bendorf, but officials there found that his Wagenpass had been altered, and his licence was suspended until March 1975. The subsequent history of the March is unknown.
  15. Royale RP11A [6] (Val Musetti): New factory car for Tom Pryce to drive, replacing the one wrecked at the 1972 Monaco GP F3 race. To Reystan Racing for 1973 for Andy Sutcliffe to drive, but Sutcliffe left the team in April, and his seat was taken over by Val Musetti, who had written off his own RP11 in testing. Raced by Musetti through to the end of the season. Converted to Formula Atlantic specification for 1974 and raced by Musetti in the British championship up to May. Sold later in the year to Mike Franey and raced in libre racing. Raced by Franey in a couple of British Formula Atlantic races in 1975. Subsequent history unknown.

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.