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Johnny Dumfries in the Dave Price Racing Ralt RT3 at Donington Park in May 1984.  Copyright Alan Cox 2019.  Used with permission.

British Formula 3 1984

John Colum Crichton-Stuart got the drive at Dave Price Racing in 1984 and ran away with the British title, leaving behind an admitedly weaker field than in previous seasons. Styling himself "Johnny Dumfries" for racing purposes after his inherited title "Earl of Dumfries", he clinched the title with three rounds left to run. Russell Spence had been his closest rival for much of the year but his Glenn Waters Ralt was pipped for second place in the championship by the consistent Allen Berg at Eddie Jordan Racing. With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that this was not a vintage year; none of this season's crop established themselves in F1.

Dumfries moved up to F3000 but had no success at all at the level. Despite that, he was employed by the Lotus F1 team where he fared no better in 1986. He then moved into sports cars and was a Le Mans winner in 1988 as part of the Jaguar squad. He later adopted the name "John Bute".

The races

04 Mar 1984 > Silverstone

11 Mar 1984 > Thruxton

01 Apr 1984 > Silverstone

15 Apr 1984 > Zolder

23 Apr 1984 > Thruxton

07 May 1984 > Thruxton

20 May 1984 > Donington Park

28 May 1984 > Silverstone

01 Jul 1984 > Snetterton

08 Jul 1984 > Donington Park

18 Aug 1984 > Oulton Park

27 Aug 1984 > Silverstone

01 Sep 1984 > Spa-Francorchamps

16 Sep 1984 > Zandvoort

23 Sep 1984 > Brands Hatch

30 Sep 1984 > Thruxton

07 Oct 1984 > Silverstone

1984 Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship table

1Johnny DumfriesRalt RT3/83 - VW Brabham106 pts10 wins
2Allen BergRalt RT3/84 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor67 pts 
3Russell SpenceRalt RT3/84 - VW Brabham64 pts3 wins
4Mario HyttenRalt RT3/84 - VW45 pts1 win
5Ross CheeverRalt RT3/83 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor
RT3/84 - VW
39 pts3 wins
6Carlos AbellaRalt RT3/84 - Toyota 2T-G26 pts 
7Dave ScottRalt RT3/84 - VW Brabham19 pts 
8Andrew Gilbert-ScottRalt RT3/84 - VW
Ralt RT3/84 - Toyota 2T-G
17 pts 
9=Gary EvansRalt RT3/84 - Toyota 2T-G11 pts 
9=Tony TrevorRalt RT3/83 - VW11 pts 

Previous: the 1983 season

Next: the 1985 season

Points table from Autosport 8 November 1984 p35.

Ralt's domination increased, the only competitor to the RT3/84 being the previous year's RT3/83. Some teams prefered the 1983 model, with its rocker-arm front suspension, to the pull-rod 1984 version. Cor Euser scored one solitary point for Magnum.

Autosport continued to count consecutive vistories for the RT3, the run now extended to 71. After the setback of 1983, when both Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle had used Toyota engines, the John Judd-built VW powerplant swept the board in 1984.

A Class B was introduced for 1984 which only allowed cars built before March 1983. Keith Fine, using a RT3/83, won nine times from 12 starts to win the class.