OldRacingCars.com

Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship Race

Silverstone, 1 Mar 1981

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Jonathan Palmer Ralt RT3/80 [198] - Toyota 2T-G Mader
#12 West Surrey Racing (see note 1)
20 21m 08.22s
91.29 mph
2 Mike White March 813 [1] - Alfa Romeo Novamotor
#1 Autowindscreens with March Engineering
20 21m 08.59s
3 Raul Boesel Ralt RT3/81 [216] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#8 Murray Taylor Racing (see note 2)
20 21m 12.69s
4 Michael Bleekemolen Ralt RT3/81 [208] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#33 Barron Racing (see note 3)
20 21m 24.62s
5 Thierry Tassin Argo JM8 [050-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Toda
#2 Anglia Cars/Belga
20 21m 31.22s
6 Kurt Thiim March 813 [3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#15 Gerard Racing
20 21m 32.72s
7 James Weaver Ralt RT3/80 [183] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#5 Eurosports Management with Team Tiga
(see note 4)
20 21m 39.09s
8 Toshio Suzuki March 813 [2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#11 March Engineering (see note 5)
20 21m 45.74s
9 John Booth Argo JM8 [049-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#20
20 22m 06.08s
10 David Sears Ralt RT3/81 [217] - Toyota 2T-G Judd
#7 Eddie Jordan Racing (see note 6)
19
11 Richard Trott Ralt RT3/81 [207] - Toyota 2T-G Nelson
#4 SW Racing (see note 7)
19
12 Jon Beekhuis Argo JM8 [051-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#3 Anglia Cars Racing with the UCI Group
19
13 Enrique Benamo Argo JM8 [051-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#77 Rushen Green Racing
19
14 David Sturdy Argo JM8 [055-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#34
18
R Claus Schinkel Ralt RT3/81 [222] - Toyota 2T-G Mader
#30 Neil Trundle Racing (see note 8)
17 Accident
R Cliff Hansen Ralt RT3/81 [221] - Toyota 2T-G Titan
#6 Eurosports Management with Team Tiga
13 Engine
R Mike Dixon Ralt RT1/78 [112] - Triumph Dolomite 4
#24 Johnson & Bailey
6 Wet electrics
R Trevor Wigglesworth Chevron B43 [43.78.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#23 (see note 9)
4 Wet electrics
DNS Dave Scott Argo JM6 [039-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#16 Swift Caravans - Mint Engineering
Did not start
(Accident)
DNS Tony Norton March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite 4
#32 PC Designs (see note 10)
Did not start
(Water leak)
DNA Mike O'Brien March 803B [803-10] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#13
Did not arrive
DNA Tim Davies March 803B [803-2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#14
Did not arrive
DNA Terry Gray Ralt RT3/80 [197] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#17 SW Racing (see note 11)
Did not arrive
DNA Paul Hutson Argo JM8 [053-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#21 Alpha Motorsport
Did not arrive
DNA Rick Whyman March 803 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#22 Rick Whyman Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Tommy Byrne Ralt RT3/81 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#25 Anson Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Derek Butt Argo JM8 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#27 Wordplex Racing
Did not arrive
DNA Gerry Amato March 793 [783-5] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
#28 (see note 12)
Did not arrive

All cars are 2-litre F3 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Jonathan Palmer (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/80 [198] - Toyota 2T-G Mader 0.54.65
2 James Weaver (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/80 [183] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.54.79
3 Raul Boesel (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/81 [216] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.54.83
4 Richard Trott (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/81 [207] - Toyota 2T-G Nelson 0.54.90
5 Mike White (F3) 2-litre March 813 [1] - Alfa Romeo Novamotor 0.54.97
6 Michael Bleekemolen (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/81 [208] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.55.19
7 Thierry Tassin (F3) 2-litre Argo JM8 [050-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Toda 0.55.25
8 Cliff Hansen (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/81 [221] - Toyota 2T-G Titan 0.55.29
9 Jon Beekhuis (F3) 2-litre Argo JM8 [051-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.55.60
10 Toshio Suzuki (F3) 2-litre March 813 [2] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.55.71
11 Kurt Thiim (F3) 2-litre March 813 [3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.56.39
12 John Booth (F3) 2-litre Argo JM8 [049-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.56.50
13 Claus Schinkel (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/81 [222] - Toyota 2T-G Mader 0.56.75
14 Enrique Benamo (F3) 2-litre Argo JM8 [051-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.56.89
15 David Sears (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT3/81 [217] - Toyota 2T-G Judd 0.57.37
16 Trevor Wigglesworth (F3) 2-litre Chevron B43 [43.78.07] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 0.57.57
17 Mike Dixon (F3) 2-litre Ralt RT1/78 [112] - Triumph Dolomite 4 0.58.67
18 Tony Norton * (F3) 2-litre March 773 [3] - Triumph Dolomite 4 0.59.58
19 David Sturdy (F3) 2-litre Argo JM8 [055-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1.00.74
20 Dave Scott * (F3) 2-litre Argo JM6 [039-F3] - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor 1.01.99
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Ralt RT3/80 [198] (Jonathan Palmer): Sold to Project Four for Stefan Johansson 15 Aug 1980. Used to win 1980 championship. Sold to West Surrey Racing for Jonathan Palmer, 1981. Won 1981 championship. Retained by WSR and used by Enrique Mansilla in early 1982, then leased to Osamu Nakako [Motoring News 15 Jul 1982 p15). For sale Autosport 14 Oct 1982 p68 '1981 champ winning car' to Gerry Amato Autosport 18 Nov 1982 p13 'ex Johansson, Palmer'.
  2. Ralt RT3/81 [216] (Raul Boesel): Sold to Murray Taylor Racing 21 Jan 1981. Initially Raul Boesel's race car, then later used by Tim Lee-Davey (British GP support race) and Tommy Byrne. For sale Autosport 4 Feb 1982 p61 MTR offer 81 RT3 'as driven by Boesel, Byrne and Lee-Davey'. Sold to Peter Argetsinger (Autosport 25 Feb 1982 p5 says ex Boesel; Motoring News says ex-Lee Davey, so the older 1981 MTR car). Also rented to David Sears.
  3. Ralt RT3/81 [208] (Michael Bleekemolen): Sold to Glenn Bosch for 1981, to be run by Wimhurst. Bosch then injured in RTA and Bleekemolen used the car. Team became Barron Racing for 1982, running the car for Cor Euser and Tim Davies. Sold to Mick Cook Racing for Martin Longmore (Autosport 5 Aug 1982 p31 'ex Barron') then to EJR late 1982 as hire car, being used by Mike Blanchet at Silverstone 3 Oct 1982, and used by Weaver in late season Euro rounds.
  4. Ralt RT3/80 [183] (James Weaver): A works car finished July 1980 for Tommy Byrne to run at British GP support race. Sold to Tiga for Daniele Albertin to run. Used by James Weaver in 1981 and then sold to Mike O'Brien. To Tony Trevor for 1982 (Autosport 18 Feb 1982 p7; Motoring News 11 Mar 1982 p14 'ex O'Brien, Weaver') badly damaged at Thruxton in April and probably scrapped. Trevor only reappears at Silverstone 27 June in what Autosport (1 Jul 1982 p8) calls 'a replacement built up from a pile of bits, most bought from Dave Scott's team who had built up a new car during the close season'. These bits may, themselves, have come from the remains of RT3/192 which Scott may have destroyed in testing in 1980, plus surplus parts from RT3/250. We should presume that 183 ceases to exist after April 1980 unless observation of the plate can be found on Trevor's late 1982 car.
  5. March 813 [2] (Toshio Suzuki): A works car for Toshio Suzuki, completed 27 Feb 1981. Sold to Tarry Racing for Ian Shaw, described as 'ex Suzuki' AS 6 May 1982 then to Phil Dowsett ('ex Suzuki' Autosport 23 Sep 1982 p6).
  6. Ralt RT3/81 [217] (David Sears): Sold to Eddie Jordan 22 Feb 1981 and used throughout 1981, mainly by David Sears. Autosport 25 Feb 1982 p4 advises that Jordan's 81 spec Ralt will be driven in 1982 by James Weaver. (A new 82 spec car - chassis 293 - had been purchased for Fernando Macedo to drive.) Used to win Donington Euro round 4 Apr 1982. Retained as spare car early 1983 and driven by Tommy Grunnah at first British round.
  7. Ralt RT3/81 [207] (Richard Trott): Sold to Richard Trott 19 Jan 1981. Used throughout 1981 season, leased to Tassin at Cadwell Park. Retained 1982, rented to Martin Longmore for British GP support race.
  8. Ralt RT3/81 [222] (Claus Schinkel): Sold to Neil Trundle 20 Feb 1981 and used by Claus Schinkel in the British series. Retained early 1982 and driven by Luis Schafer (Autosport 4 Mar 1982 'ex Schinkel'), then sold to DB Racing for Mario Hytten when a 1982 spec car arrived.
  9. Chevron B43 [43.78.07] (Trevor Wigglesworth): New to Chevron Racing Team for Patrick Gaillard to race in the European F3 championship in 1978. Sold to Barry Green for British F3 in 1979, and rented by Fred Opert Racing for Manuel Tolama to drive at the Monaco GP F3 event that year. To Rick Whyman for British F3 in 1980, then driven by Trevor Wigglesworth from August onwards after Whyman bought a March 793. Raced again by Wigglesworth for Rick Whyman Racing in 1981.
  10. March 773 [3] (Tony Norton): 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.
  11. Ralt RT3/80 [197] (Terry Gray): Sold to Eddie Jordan 7 Aug 1980 and used by him in latter part of 1980 season. Sold to Terry Gray for 1981 season (Autosport 15 Jan 1981) but only lightly used. For sale Autosport 30 Apr 1981 p61. Sold to Dave Price for Fred Krab to run in Euro series, debut Zandvoort round. For sale by DPR 'new tub in Aug' Autosport 14 Jan 1982 p62. Sold to Phil Dowsett to run in 1982 UK series (Autosport 4 Mar 1982 p38; Motorig News 4 Mar 1982 p3 'ex DPR Krab/Tragardh'); sold late season to Leo Andersson (Autosport 28 Oct 1982 p15).
  12. March 793 [783-5] (Gerry Amato): Shown in March records for 1978 as delivered to Daniel Herregods, 19 January 1978, colour yellow with tub 78M25. To Rob Wilson in 1979 to replace his tiring Ralt RT1 and updated to 1979 specification. Autosport notes ‘ex Herregods’ and chassis number noted by F1R at Snetterton in August 1979. Sold to Gerry Amato for 1980 season, Autosport notes his car as ‘ex Wilson 1979’. Retained by Amato until 1982 then sold to Greg and Tim Atkinson.

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

On Track 16 Apr 1981, Autosport 5 Mar 1981, Motoring News 5 Mar 1981