OldRacingCars.com

Forward Trust Formula Three Championship

Thruxton, 25 Mar 1973

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Ian Taylor March 733 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#18 Chris Andrews
15 23m 11.2s
91.45 mph
2 Andy Sutcliffe Royale RP11A [6] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#32 Reystan Racing (see note 1)
15 23m 54.4s
3 Tony Brise GRD 373 [045-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#1 Team Kent Messenger Racing
15 23m 59.6s
4 Masami Kuwashima GRD 372 [030-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#6 Reystan Racing (see note 2)
15 24m 10.2s
5 Alan Jones GRD 373 [060-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#9 DART Racing/GRD Ltd
15 24m 12.8s
6 Mike Wilds Ensign LNF3/73 [72.8] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#26 Dempster International Racing Team
15 24m 14.0s
7 Simon Sherman Royale RP11 [5] - Ford twin cam
#30 (see note 3)
14 23m 15.2s
8 Roger Craven GRD 372 [024-F3] - Ford twin cam
#2 L&K Racing Team (see note 4)
14 23m 52.8s
9 Tony Rouff GRD 373 [050-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#4 AB3 Racing Developments
14 24m 24.0s
10 Matt Spitzley March 733 [7] - Ford twin cam Brown
#16
13 23m 01.6s
R Russell Wood March 733 [3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#17 The Chequered Flag (see note 5)
11 Drive shaft
R John Sheldon Royale RP11 [3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#29 (see note 6)
10 Accident damage after spin at Goodwood
R Val Musetti Royale RP11 [2] - Ford twin cam Carlow
#31 (see note 7)
6
R Damien Magee Palliser WD3-2 [2] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#15
5 Accident at Village
R Neil Ginn GRD 372 [022-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#7 (see note 8)
3
R Richard Robarts GRD 373 [053-F3] - Ford twin cam Levsey
#11 Myson Racing with GRS
2 Hit by Harness
R Mo Harness Ensign LNF3/73 [73.17] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#25 Modus Team Ensign
2 Spun at Campbell, hit Robarts
DNS Brian Henton GRD 373 [057-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#3
Did not start
(Wrong tires after warm up lap [dries for wet race])
DNQ S.N. (Norman) Moffett GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#12 (see note 9)
Did not qualify
DNQ Andy MacGregor Brabham BT35 [4] - Ford twin cam Carlow
#34 (see note 10)
Did not qualify
DNQ John MacDonald GRD 372 [025-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#5 (see note 11)
Did not qualify
DNA Jeremy Gambs GRD 373 [070-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#8
Did not arrive
DNA Barrie Maskell MRE Mk2 [P.1.73] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#10 Competition Cars
Did not arrive
DNA Leonel Friedrich March 733 [13] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#21 (see note 12)
Did not arrive
DNA José Espírito Santo March 733 [6] - Ford twin cam Mohr
#22
Did not arrive
DNA Steve Coen March 713S [9] - Ford twin cam
#24 (see note 13)
Did not arrive
DNA Alan Edgar Alexis Mk20 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#28
Did not arrive
DNA Graham Lynch (F3) unknown
#33
Did not arrive

All cars are 1.6-litre F3 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Tony Brise (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [045-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.30.2
2 Damien Magee (F3) 1.6-litre Palliser WD3-2 [2] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 1.31.8
3 Alan Jones (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [060-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 1.32.6
4 Ian Taylor (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.33.6
5 Russell Wood (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 1.33.8
6 Mo Harness (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3/73 [73.17] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.34.0
7 John Sheldon (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11 [3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 1.34.0
8 Masami Kuwashima (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [030-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.34.2
9 Mike Wilds (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3/73 [72.8] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.34.4
10 Andy Sutcliffe (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11A [6] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 1.34.4
11 Matt Spitzley (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [7] - Ford twin cam Brown 1.34.6
12 Neil Ginn (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [022-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 1.35.4
13 Val Musetti (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11 [2] - Ford twin cam Carlow 1.38.4
14 Simon Sherman (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11 [5] - Ford twin cam 1.39.6
15 Richard Robarts (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [053-F3] - Ford twin cam Levsey 1.40.2
16 Tony Rouff (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [050-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 1.40.4
17 Roger Craven (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [024-F3] - Ford twin cam 1.41.0
18 Brian Henton * (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [057-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.52.8
19 Andy MacGregor * (F3) 1.6-litre Brabham BT35 [4] - Ford twin cam Carlow 2.15.8
20 S.N. (Norman) Moffett * (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay 2.16.8
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Royale RP11A [6] (Andy Sutcliffe): 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.
  2. GRD 372 [030-F3] (Masami Kuwashima): Entered by GRS International for Ian Taylor and Barrie Maskell in British F3 in late 1972, using Holbay and Vegantune engines. To Reystan Racing for Masami Kuwashima for a few races in early 1973 until Kuwashima acquired a March 733, but this 1973 car has also been identified as chassis 033. Then entered by Reystan partner John Stanton for Richard Knight to drive (as a 373) for two races in May 1973. Then to Rod Smith and entered for him by ADM Business Systems Ltd from September onwards, but "totalled" in an accident during practice for the race at Brands Hatch in early November 1973.
  3. Royale RP11 [5] (Simon Sherman): New to Simon Sherman and raced in British F3 in 1972. Retained for 1973, but did not start many races. Sherman entered the car for a few races in 1974 but only started one race. Subsequent history unknown.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Royale RP11 [3] (John Sheldon): New to The Chequered Flag for Ian Ashley in British F3 in 1972. The team were a frequent non-arrival from July onwards, even when Brian McGuire replaced Ian Ashley as the nominated driver. Sold to John Sheldon (Surbiton, Surrey) for 1973 and raced in the British F3 series. Last seen at Mallory Park in August 1973. Subsequent history unknown.
  7. Royale RP11 [2] (Val Musetti): New for Val Musetti (Twickenham) and raced in British F3 in 1972. Retained for 1973 until "written off" in an accident the week before the race at Oulton Park 20 April 1973. Musetti then took over the Reystan Racing Royale RP11A from Andy Sutcliffe, and future references to an ex-Musetti Royale would be to that car.
  8. GRD 372 [022-F3] (Neil Ginn): Entered by GRS International for Scottish Formula Ford champion Neil Ginn and raced extensively in British F3 in 1972, using Novamotor engines. It was sponsored by Lyle & Scott's 'Y-front' underwear range. Retained for Ginn for 1973. The car had to be rebuilt on a borrowed tub after his accident in practice at Oulton Park on Good Friday. Ginn's last race was at Oulton Park at the end of May. In January 1974, Ginn advertised his "1973 GRD model" which came with "brand new tub and new bodywork" as well as a Novamotor engine and Hewland Mk 8 gearbox.
  9. 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.
  10. Brabham BT35 [4] (Andy MacGregor): New to Canadian Chris O'Brien and used in British F3 in 1971, sponsored by Diner's Club. Retained by O'Brien for a couple of races early in 1972, while waiting for his Brabham BT38C to arrive, but he did not race it. Then sold to Andy McGregor but he failed to arrive for his first few races, then couldn't qualify for a few more, so did not start a race in 1972. Retained by McGregor for 1973, and used most of the season.
  11. GRD 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.
  12. 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.
  13. March 713S [9] (Steve Coen): New to Peter Bloore (Wallingford, Oxfordshire) for driver Lee Kaye, and run by MRE in British F3. Also driven by Bob Muir at a couple of races, and by Ole Vejlund at one race at the end of the season. Unknown in 1972, but very likely to be the car advertised by Peter Slade from Folkestone and Hythe phone numbers in June 1972, especially as it was advertised with a Rowland engine, and the only 713S noted as having a Rowland engine in 1971 was the Bloore/Kaye car. Advertised again from the same phone numbers in October 1972, but without engine or gearbox. Raced by Steve Coen in Formula 3 in 1973. Subsequent history unknown but geography would suggest it was the March "713/73" used by Peter Orlando (Shepperton) in Formula Ford 2000 in 1975. Again, geography would suggest this became the Lydden libre car later in the 1970s.

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.