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Eje Elgh in the Chevron B38 at Cadwell Park in 1977.  Copyright Alan Cox 2009.  Used with permission.

British Formula 3 1977

The success of the European Championship, now in its third season, stole some of the limelight from the British championships in 1977 and the continuing divide between the BP-sponsored BARC title and the Vandervell-sponsored BRDC title cannot have helped.

Stephen South started the season in dominant form in the March 763 he had raced in 1976 and led both championships into July. After wrecking the 763 in an accident with Derek Daly, he moved over to a March 773 and the BP series turned into a three-way fight with Daly and Swede Eje Elgh, both in Chevron B38s. Daly led into the final round and clinched the title by winning after his rivals dropped out. South's consolation was the Vandervell title. Both drivers moved into F2 for 1978 but only Daly was able to secure a proper budget.

March remained narrowly the most numerous car on the grid, with 190 starters, from Chevron with 175 and Ralt with 148, but there was a significant shift to the Ralt RT1 during the season, with Derek Warwick, Nelson Piquet and Elio de Angelis all swapping to the Woking marque. Chevron won ten races, March nine and Ralt four. The only other constructors to feature in England were Lola, whose T570 was hauled into fourth place at one race, and Anglia Cars' new Argo JM1 which impressed with a handful of minor placings.

The races

06 Mar 1977 > Silverstone

13 Mar 1977 > Thruxton

26 Mar 1977 > Oulton Park

03 Apr 1977 > Silverstone

11 Apr 1977 > Thruxton

01 May 1977 > Brands Hatch

21 May 1977 > Monaco GP F3 Race at Monte Carlo

29 May 1977 > Brands Hatch

06 Jun 1977 > Silverstone

07 Jun 1977 > Donington Park

19 Jun 1977 > Thruxton

25 Jun 1977 > Gran Premio della Lotteria at Monza

08 Jul 1977 > Donington Park Trophy

10 Jul 1977 > Cadwell Park

16 Jul 1977 > Silverstone

31 Jul 1977 > Donington Park

07 Aug 1977 > Snetterton

27 Aug 1977 > Donington Park

29 Aug 1977 > Silverstone

04 Sep 1977 > BRSCC Trophy at Mallory Park

11 Sep 1977 > Brands Hatch

25 Sep 1977 > Mallory Park

01 Oct 1977 > Silverstone

16 Oct 1977 > Donington Park

30 Oct 1977 > Thruxton

13 Nov 1977 > Gone in 60 Seconds Formula 3 Trophy at Thruxton

Championship events shown in bold

1977 BARC BP Super Visco F3 Championship table

1Derek DalyChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor69 pts4 wins
2=Stephen SouthMarch 763 - Toyota Novamotor
March 773 - Toyota Novamotor
56 pts3 wins
2=Eje ElghChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor56 pts2 wins
4Geoff LeesChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor41 pts1 win
5Derek WarwickChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor
Ralt RT1/77 - Toyota Novamotor
40 pts 
6Geoff BrabhamRalt RT1/76 - Toyota Novamotor27 pts1 win
7James KingMarch 773 - Toyota Novamotor22 pts 
8Brett RileyMarch 773 - Toyota Novamotor16 pts 
9Ian TaylorMarch 773 - Triumph Dolomite Holbay11 pts 
10=Piercarlo GhinzaniMarch 773 - Toyota Novamotor9 pts 
10=Didier PironiMartini MK21 - Toyota Novamotor9 pts 
10=Tiff NeedellMarch 763 - Triumph Dolomite Holbay
March 773 - Triumph Dolomite Holbay
9 pts 
13Elio de AngelisChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor
Ralt RT1/77 - Toyota Novamotor
8 pts 
14=Thorkild ThyrringChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor7 pts 
14=Ian FluxRalt RT1/76 - Toyota Novamotor7 pts 

Previous: the 1976 season

Next: the 1978 season

This series ran over 17 rounds and used a 9-6-4-3-2-1 points system with an extra point awarded for fastest lap. Points tables from Autocourse 1977/78 p234. For some reason, Autocourse omitted Geoff Brabham from the points table, despite him having won at Donington in June, finished second at Donington in October and having taken (or shared) fastest lap at those two races as well as at Thruxton in March, at Thruxton in June and at Donington in July.

1977 BRDC Vandervell F3 Championship table

1Stephen SouthMarch 763 - Toyota Novamotor
March 773 - Toyota Novamotor
75 pts2 wins
2Brett RileyMarch 773 - Toyota Novamotor58 pts2 wins
3Derek WarwickChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor
Ralt RT1/77 - Toyota Novamotor
41 pts 
4Geoff BrabhamRalt RT1/76 - Toyota Novamotor36 pts1 win
5=Eje ElghChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor34 pts 
5=Derek DalyChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor34 pts 
7Nelson PiquetRalt RT1/77 - Toyota Novamotor32 pts 
8Beppe GabbianiChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor30 pts1 win
9Ian TaylorMarch 773 - Triumph Dolomite Holbay26 pts 
10Geoff LeesChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor24 pts 
11=Anders OlofssonRalt RT1/77 - Toyota Novamotor23 pts1 win
11=Tiff NeedellMarch 763 - Triumph Dolomite Holbay
March 773 - Triumph Dolomite Holbay
23 pts 
13Patrick GaillardChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor21 pts 
14Ian FluxRalt RT1/76 - Toyota Novamotor19 pts 
15Elio de AngelisChevron B38 - Toyota Novamotor
Ralt RT1/77 - Toyota Novamotor
15 pts 

Previous: the 1976 season

Next: the 1978 season

This series ran over seven rounds and used a 20-15-12-10-8 points system with two points for fastest lap. Points tables from Autocourse 1977/78 p233.