1983 British Formula Three Championship Explained

The 1983 British Formula Three Championship was the 33rd season of the British Formula Three Championship, starting at Silverstone on 6 March and concluding at Thruxton on 23 October after 20 races.

The season saw a head-to-head title battle between future Formula One stars Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle - both driving Toyota-powered Ralt chassis, prepared by West Surrey Racing and Eddie Jordan Racing respectively. Senna built up a commanding advantage by winning the first nine races in succession, but a series of retirements for the Brazilian later in the year allowed Brundle to close the gap. The Brit took the points lead heading into the series finale, but Senna dominated the race to secure the title.

Senna won 12 of the 20 races in the season (60% of that year's races), a record until Jan Magnussen won 14 of the 18 races in the 1994 season (78% of that year's races). Both Senna and Brundle stepped up to F1 in 1984, joining Toleman and Tyrrell respectively.

Other notable drivers from the year included future Le Mans winner Davy Jones, BTCC star David Leslie and Senna's future Lotus teammate Johnny Dumfries. 1983 was also the final season before 'Class B' was established, offering a separate prize for those competing in older cars.

Race calendar and results

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning Team
1Silverstone6 March David Leslie Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
2Thruxton13 March Ayrton Senna Martin Brundle Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
3Silverstone20 March Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
4Donington Park27 March Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna
Davy Jones
Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
5Thruxton4 April Ayrton Senna Martin Brundle Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
6Silverstone24 April Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
7Thruxton2 May Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
8Brands Hatch8 May Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
9Silverstone30 May Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
10Silverstone12 June Martin Brundle Davy Jones Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
11Cadwell Park19 June Ayrton Senna Martin Brundle Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
12Snetterton3 July Martin Brundle Ayrton Senna Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
13Silverstone16 July Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
14Donington Park24 July Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
15Oulton Park6 August Martin Brundle Ayrton Senna Calvin Fish David Price Racing
16Silverstone29 August Ayrton Senna Davy Jones Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing
17Oulton Park11 September Ayrton Senna Davy Jones Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
18Thruxton18 September Ayrton Senna Martin Brundle Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
19Silverstone2 October Davy Jones Martin Brundle Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing
20Thruxton23 October Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing

Brundle was ineligible to score points as he was using European specification tyres. Allen Berg therefore secured maximum points at this round.[1]

Championship Standings

Points in brackets include dropped scoresonly the best 17 of 20 scores count towards the championship

Pos.DriverTeamSILTHRSILDONTHRSILTHRBRHSILSILCADSNESILDONOULSILOULTHRSILTHRPts
1 Ayrton SennaWest Surrey Racing111111111RetDNSRet12Ret1RetRet21132
2 Martin BrundleEddie Jordan Racing22222322211121Ret2111(3)
3 Davy JonesMurray Taylor Racing3Ret43Ret233514327323Ret23277
4 Calvin FishDavid Price Racing4Ret3Ret34Ret4416233415234567
5 Allen BergNeil Trundle Racing1087Ret5765310RetRet4Ret345Ret5DNS32
6 Mario HyttenAxxess Racing Team53Ret4484Ret7Ret55697423
7 David LeslieRobinson Motorsport7456Ret656RetRetRet864Ret34622
8 Eric LangMurray Taylor Racing12RetRetRet10139118174697Ret116615610
9 Tony TrevorDriver86Ret898891964Ret8577129
10 Richard TrottRichard Trott RacingRet5DNSRetDNS61254Ret8
11 Johnny DumfriesAssociated Racing65Ret875RetRetRetRetDNS5Ret6168
12 David HuntEddie Jordan Racing995Ret72
13 Tim Lee-DaveyDavid Luff Racing9612Ret6107722108112
14 Mike BlanchetTarry Racing101710921DNS12Ret1081
15 Carlton TinglingTingling Racing14DNS11Ret1214DNS101023Ret13106Ret871391

European Championship race where the British runners had to use regulation Avon rubber to be eligible for British championship points.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: British Formula 3 Championship (1951-2014). 12 March 2015. motorsportwinners.com.
  2. Web site: British Formula 3 1983. 26 August 2020. oldracingcars.com.