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Lombard North Central Formula Three Championship

Silverstone, 18 Mar 1973

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Alan Jones GRD 372 [033-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#43 DART Racing with GRD (see note 1)
20 19m 58.4s
96.61 mph
2 Russell Wood March 733 [3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#36 The Chequered Flag (see note 2)
20 20m 02.0s
3 Mike Wilds Ensign LNF3/73 [72.8] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#56 Dempster International Racing
20 20m 02.2s
4 Mike Tyrrell Ensign LNF3 - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#57
20 20m 03.8s
5 Mo Harness Ensign LNF3/73 [73.17] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#55 Modus Team Ensign
20 20m 16.0s
6 Neil Ginn GRD 372 [021-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#52 (see note 3)
20 20m 19.2s
7 Ian Taylor March 733 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#32 Chris Andrews
20 20m 25.6s
8 Masami Kuwashima GRD 372 [030-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#49 Reystan Racing (see note 4)
20 20m 26.2s
9 Damien Magee Palliser WD3-2 [2] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#60
20 20m 28.4s
10 Tony Rouff GRD 373 [050-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#41 AB3 Racing Developments
20 20m 29.0s
11 John Sheldon Royale RP11 [3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#62 (see note 5)
20 20m 37.4s
12 José Espírito Santo March 733 [6] - Ford twin cam Mohr
#31
20 20m 39.0s
13 Matt Spitzley March 713M [11] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#37 (see note 6)
19 Overheating
14 Brian Henton GRD 373 [057-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#45 Brian Henton Racing
18 Oil pressure
R Val Musetti Royale RP11 [2] - Ford twin cam Carlow
#64 (see note 7)
17
R Larry Perkins GRD 372 [032-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#50 (see note 8)
15
R Richard Robarts GRD 373 [053-F3] - Ford twin cam Levsey
#47 Myson Racing with GRS
14 Metering unit
R Andy Sutcliffe Royale RP11A [6] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#63 Reystan Racing (see note 9)
0 Gear lever stuck in second
R Tony Brise GRD 373 [045-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#46 Team Kent Messenger Racing
1 Accident damage, hit by Perkins
DNS Roger Hurst Lenham LM1 [March 713M-6] - Ford twin cam Richardson
#39 (see note 10)
Did not start
DNS S.N. (Norman) Moffett GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#54 (see note 11)
Did not start
DNA Leonel Friedrich March 733 [13] - Ford twin cam Holbay
#33 (see note 12)
Did not arrive
DNA Nicholas von Preussen March 733 [12] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#34 P&M Racing Preparations Ltd
Did not arrive
DNA Nick Crossley March 733 [4] - Ford twin cam Novamotor
#35 P&M Racing Preparations Ltd
Did not arrive
DNA John MacDonald GRD 372 [025-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#42 (see note 13)
Did not arrive
DNA Jeremy Gambs GRD 373 [070-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune
#44
Did not arrive
DNA Barrie Maskell GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay
#51 GRS International
Did not arrive
DNA Roger Craven GRD 372 [024-F3] - Ford twin cam RES
#53 L&K Team Racing (see note 14)
Did not arrive

All cars are 1.6-litre F3 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Alan Jones (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [033-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 0.58.4
2 Mike Tyrrell (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3 - Ford twin cam Vegantune 0.59.0
3 Russell Wood (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 0.59.0
4 Mike Wilds (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3/73 [72.8] - Ford twin cam Holbay 0.59.0
5 Richard Robarts (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [053-F3] - Ford twin cam Levsey 0.59.2
6 Damien Magee (F3) 1.6-litre Palliser WD3-2 [2] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 0.59.4
7 Matt Spitzley (F3) 1.6-litre March 713M [11] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 0.59.4
8 José Espírito Santo (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 [6] - Ford twin cam Mohr 0.59.8
9 Tony Rouff (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [050-F3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 0.59.8
10 Brian Henton (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [057-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.00.0
11 Andy Sutcliffe (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11A [6] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 1.00.0
12 Masami Kuwashima (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [030-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.00.0
13 Mo Harness (F3) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF3/73 [73.17] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.00.0
14 Neil Ginn (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [021-F3] - Ford twin cam Novamotor 1.00.2
15 Tony Brise (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 373 [045-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.00.2
16 John Sheldon (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11 [3] - Ford twin cam Vegantune 1.00.4
17 Val Musetti (F3) 1.6-litre Royale RP11 [2] - Ford twin cam Carlow 1.00.6
18 S.N. (Norman) Moffett * (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.01.6
19 Ian Taylor (F3) 1.6-litre March 733 - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.02.2
20 Larry Perkins (F3) 1.6-litre GRD 372 [032-F3] - Ford twin cam Holbay 1.02.2
21 Roger Hurst * (F3) 1.6-litre Lenham LM1 [March 713M-6] - Ford twin cam Richardson 1.07.4
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. GRD 372 [033-F3] (Alan Jones): New to Alan Jones and raced in British F3 from mid-July 1972, using Vegantune engines. Used for one race at the start of 1973 after Jones' new GRD 373 was written off in testing at Snetterton. The subsequent history of the 372 is unknown.
  2. 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.
  3. GRD 372 [021-F3] (Neil Ginn): Entered by GRS International for Pierre-François Rousselot and raced extensively in British F3 in 1972, using Novamotor and later Holbay engines, and sponsored by Gitanes. Raced by Neil Ginn at one early-1973 race, then entered by DART Racing with GRD for Pedro Passadore, who raced it in Britain from April to June 1973, when he moved to a newer GRD 373. The subsequent history of the 372 is unknown.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. March 713M [11] (Matt Spitzley): New to Matt Spitzley (Aspen, CO) and used in British F3 late 1971 and through 1972. Reappeared in 1973 for Spitzley after he rolled his new 733 at Silverstone while testing. This car may have been effectively consumed into his 733/74B over the next two years.
  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 [032-F3] (Larry Perkins): Entered by GRS International for Keiichi Tahara at two races in June and July 1972. To Team Cowangie for Larry Perkins to drive in British and French F3 in 1973 but although the car was identified as chassis 032, it was once referred to as "ex-Jones" [his own chassis 033-F3 or the ex-Sutcliffe GRS car] and also once as ex-Rousselot [the GRS chassis 021]. Jones had retained 033 for the start of 1973 and the ex-Rousselot 021-F3 was driven in 1973 by Pedro Passadore, so neither are likely. Perkins badly damaged the car in practice at Paul Ricard on 1 July 1973. When he returned to racing, he first borrowed the works Ensign and then acquired a Brabham BT41, indicating that the GRD was not repaired.
  9. 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.
  10. Lenham LM1 [March 713M-6] (Roger Hurst): New to John Bisignano (Denver, CO) and raced in British F3 in 1971 with support from Liggett & Myers L&M tobacco brand. Sold in October 1971 to Roger Hurst (Folkestone, Kent) of Lenham Hurst and raced in F3 in 1972 and 1973. By 1973 the car was being described on occasion as a 723, a 733, a March Falconer, and even as a Lenham LM1. Last raced by Hurst in November 1973. In March 1974, the car was advertised by Low Cost Racing who mentioned that it had Falconer bodywork and was fitted with a Holbay R70 engine for Formula 4. Its history over the next five years is unknown, but in 1979 and 1980, Tony Harris and Colin Brook raced 713M-6 in F4. Subsequent history unknown. A car with this identity was advertised in Italy in 2012.
  11. 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.
  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. 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.
  14. 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.

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.