1985 British Formula Three Championship Explained

The 1985 British Formula Three Championship was the 35th season of the British Formula Three Championship. Maurício Gugelmin took the BARC/BRDC Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship.

Formula Three witnessed three major changes in 1985; in an attempt to eliminate ground effects, flat-bottomed cars became mandatory; the cancellation of the FIA European Formula Three Championship; and the arrival of Reynard Motorsport, giving Ralt the real rival for the first time since March Engineering stop building F3 cars after the 1981 season. Using a revolutionary carbon-fibre monocoque, a first for F3, Reynard manufacturer cars at the same pace as Ralt, but Adrian Reynard had a knack of producing cars that won on their race debut. The Reynard 853 kept that record going, when Andy Wallace won the opening race of the season. With no European series, the national series across Europe were greatly strengthen, notably the British, French and Italian.

Reynard driver, Russell Spence led at the mid-season break with 55 pts., from Andy Wallace on 50, Maurício Gugelmin, the first Ralt on 41 and Tim Davies with another Reynard on 34.

Ralt drivers later took over: Gerrit van Kouwan won three races after the break and notched up 40 pts.; Dave Scott won twice, scoring 36 pts. Gugelmin’s Ralt was sorted by West Surrey Racing’s Dick Bennetts and with two races remaining, he held narrow two points lead in the title race on 66 pts., from both Spence and Wallace, tied on 64pts. All the momentum was with the man from Joinville, Brazil, and Gugelmin won both these easily to win the Championship.[1] [2] [3]

BARC/BRDC Marlboro British F3 Championship

Champion: Maurício Gugelmin

Runner Up: Andy Wallace

Class B Champion: Carlton Tingling[4] [5]

Results

Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship

DateRoundCircuitWinning driverWinning teamWinning car
03/03/85Rd.1 Silverstone (National) Andy WallaceSwallow RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
10/03/85Rd.2 Thruxton Russell SpencePMC Warmastyle RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
24/03/85Rd.3 Silverstone Russell SpencePMC Warmastyle RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
08/04/85Rd.4 Thruxton Russell SpencePMC Warmastyle RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
14/04/85Rd.5 Donington Park Andy WallaceSwallow RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
21/04/85Rd.6 Zolder Russell SpencePMC Warmastyle RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
06/05/85Rd.7 Thruxton Gary EvansMurray Taylor RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
27/05/85Rd.8 Thruxton Andy WallaceSwallow RacingReynard-Volkswagen 853
09/06/85Rd.9 Silverstone Maurício GugelminWest Surrey RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
23/06/85Rd.10 Brand Hatch (Indy) Ross CheeverValour RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
21/07/85Rd.11 Silverstone Gerrit van KouwenPegasus RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
28/07/85Rd.12 Donington Park Dave ScottMint EngineeringRalt-Volkswagen RT30
11/08/85Rd.13 Snetterton Gerrit van KouwenPegasus RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
17/08/85Rd.14 Oulton Park Gerrit van KouwenPegasus RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
26/08/85Rd.15 Silvertone (National) Dave ScottMint EngineeringRalt-Volkswagen RT30
01/09/85Rd.16 Spa-Francorchamps Ross CheeverValour RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
15/09/95Rd.17 Zandvoort Maurício GugelminWest Surrey RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
13/10/85Rd.18 Silverstone Circuit Maurício GugelminWest Surrey RacingRalt-Volkswagen RT30
[6] [4]

Championship Tables

Class A

PlaceDriverEntrantTotal
1 Maurício GugelminWest Surrey Racing84
2 Andy WallaceSwallow Racing76
3 Russell SpencePMC Warmastyle Racing64
4 Dave ScottRuchard Dutton Racing
Mint Engineering
52
5 Gerrit van KouwenPegasus Racing46
6 Tim DaviesSwallow Racing
Richard Dutton Racing
39
7 Ross CheeverValour Racing28
8 Gary EvansMurray Taylor Racing26
9= Harald HuysmanEddie Jordan Racing10
Cathy MullerDavid Price Racing10
11 Andrew Gilbert-ScottChuck McCarthy Racing7
12 Anthony ReidScan Sport Racing
David Price Racing
5
13 Cor EuserTeam Magnum3
14 Rob WilsonValour Racing
CW Racing
Tarry Racing
2
15= Dave CoyneDavid Price Racing1
Keith FineMike Rowe Racing
Intersport Racing
1

[4] [7]

Class B

PlaceDriverEntrantTotal
1 Carlton TinglingCarlton Tingling71
2 Giles ButterfieldAlan Docking Racing64
3 Mark GoddardSolar Racing63
4 Ray StoverRichard Dutton Racing45
5 Mike WrightJupiter Racing37
6 Steve KemptonWorldwide Dryer Group35
7 Richard ParsonsSolar Racing25
8 Ross HockenhullRichard Dutton Racing23
9 Godfrey HallGodfrey Hall17
10= Hendrik ten CateVan Amersfoort Racing15
Sean WalkerRichard Dutton Racing15
12 Bill CoombesShape Machine Motor Racing13
13 Paul StottRichard Dutton Racing10
14= Kevin JamesH.A.R.T.5
Terry PudwellJupiter Racing5
16= Ronnie GrantRonnie Grant4
”Anton Sobriquet”Jupiter Racing
CW Racing
4
18= Ian KhanMike Rowe Racing2
Rodolphe KoentgesRodolphe Koentges2
James TolertonJames Tolerton2
21st Wayne EarnshawSolar Racing1
[4] [8] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Formula 3 (F3) « OldRacingCars.com. Allen. Brown. OldRacingCars.com. 2022-07-05. 2022-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20220614193404/https://www.oldracingcars.com/f3/. live.
  2. Web site: 1985 Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship . 2013-12-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123418/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/www2/ukf3/85ukf3.html . 2015-09-24 . dead .
  3. Web site: F3History – History of Formula 3 Racing. www.f3history.co.uk. 2022-07-05. 2022-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20220618200404/https://www.f3history.co.uk/. live.
  4. Web site: British Formula 3 1985 season review and full race results . 2013-12-09 . 2014-01-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140101200225/http://www.oldracingcars.com/f3/uk/1985/ . live .
  5. Web site: Formula 3 Britain National Class 1985 standings | Driver Database. 2013-12-09. 2013-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20131105004229/http://www.driverdb.com/standings/36-1985/. live.
  6. Web site: Motorsport Winners. motorsportwinners.com. 2022-07-05. 2021-03-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301072454/http://motorsportwinners.com/current/british-formula-3-championship/. live.
  7. http://driversdb.com/standings/16-1985{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  8. http://driversdb.com/standings/36-1985{{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}