Heritage
Diamond Days
Celebrating 60 years of British Formula 3
Ayrton Senna, British Formula 3, 1983. Photo courtesy © Michael C. Brown
Sir Jackie Stewart, former British Formula 3 and Formula 1 World Driver’s Champion, once said, ‘Formula 3 is still the most important formula for aspiring Formula 1 drivers. All of what happens in a Formula 3 car happens in a Formula 1 car – it’s more akin than any other formula in the world. It’s a good way to create experience for a young driver, I think still the most important’. This sentence encapsulates the epitome of British Formula 3, now known globally as the ‘university of motorsport’ where a driver can not only define his ability, but also hone his skills through the various modifications on the Formula 3 car.
British Formula 3 is widely acknowledged as the best junior single-seater category in the World due to its strength of heritage and advancement through innovation. Teams and drivers collaborate educational motorsport formats, such as stop-and-go pit stops, which in 2011 will change to mandatory wheel changes. In 2010 three race weekend formats were introduced. The Championship is one that carves men and women into the best possible drivers and team members. Not only through driver development but overall team progression, several top level motorsport heads began their careers in British Formula 3.
Thirteen former British Formula 3 drivers have gone on to take twenty two Formula 1 World Driver’s Championships between them. Recent graduates into Formula 1 are 2008 Champion Jaime Alguersuari (Scuderia Torro Rosso), 2007 National Class Champion Sergio Perez (Sauber Ferrari) and 2009 Champion Daniel Ricciardo (reserve driver, Red Bull Racing). The most experienced Formula 1 driver who eclipsed his 500th F1 start in 2010, Rubens Barrichello, was the 1991 British Formula 3 Champion. Several other current F1 drivers, namely Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen, plus Indy Car stars Dario Franchitti, Mike Conway and Will Power, and 2010 V8 Supercars Champion, Australian James Courtney all progressed through British Formula 3.
Over the coming season we will be bringing to you key moments from throughout the sixty year history of Formula 3 in Britain, within our Key Moments page, due for launch soon.
Honor Roll of British Formula 3 Champions – 1951 to 2010
|
2010 |
Jean-Eric VERGNE (FRA) Int |
Dallara-Volkswagen |
|
|
Menasheh IDAFAR (BAH) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2009 |
Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) Int |
Dallara-Volkswagen |
|
|
Daniel McKENZIE (GBR) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2008 |
Jaime ALGUERSUARI (ESP) Int |
Dallara-Mercedes |
|
|
Jay BRIDGER (GBR) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2007 |
Marko ASMER (EST) Int |
Dallara-Mercedes |
|
|
Sergio PEREZ (MEX) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2006 |
Mike CONWAY (GBR) Int |
Dallara-Mercedes |
|
|
Rodolfo GONZALEZ (VEN) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2005 |
Alvaro PARENTE (POR) Int |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
|
Salvador DURAN (MEX) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2004 |
Nelson A. PIQUET (BRA) Int |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
|
Ryan LEWIS (GBR) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2003 |
Alan VAN DER MERWE (RSA) Int |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
|
Ernesto VISO (VEN) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2002 |
Robbie KERR (GBR) Int |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
|
Adam CARROLL (GBR) Nat |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
2001 |
Takuma SATO (JPN) Int |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
|
Robbie KERR (GBR) Nat |
Dallara-Renault |
|
2000 |
Antonio PIZZONIA (BRA) Int |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
|
Gary PAFFETT (GBR) Nat |
Dallara-Renault |
|
1999 |
Marc HYNES (GBR) |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
1998 |
Mario HABERFELD (BRA) |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
1997 |
Jonny KANE (GBR) |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
1996 |
Ralph FIRMAN (GBR) |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
1995 |
Oliver GAVIN (GBR) |
Dallara-Vauxhall |
|
1994 |
Jan MAGNUSSEN (DEN) |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
1993 |
Kelvin BURT (GBR) |
Dallara-Mugen Honda |
|
1992 |
Gil De FERRAN (BRA) |
Reynard-Mugen Honda |
|
1991 |
Rubens BARRICHELLO (BRA) |
Ralt-Mugen Honda |
|
1990 |
Mika HAKKINEN (FIN) |
Ralt-Mugen Honda |
|
1989 |
David BRABHAM (AUS) |
Ralt-Volkswagen |
|
1988 |
JJ LEHTO (FIN) |
Reynard-Toyota |
|
1987 |
Johnny HERBERT (GBR) |
Reynard-Volkswagen |
|
1986 |
Andy WALLACE (GBR) |
Reynard-Volkswagen |
|
1985 |
Mauricio GUGELMIN (BRA) |
Ralt-Volkswagen |
|
1984 |
Johnny DUMFRIES (GBR) |
Ralt-Volkswagen |
|
1983 |
Ayrton SENNA (BRA) |
Ralt-Toyota |
|
1982 |
Tommy BYRNE (IRL) |
Ralt-Toyota |
|
1981 |
Jonathan PALMER (GBR) |
Ralt-Toyota |
|
1980 |
Stefan JOHANSSON (SWE) |
March/Ralt -Toyota |
|
1979 |
Chico SERRA (BRA) |
March-Toyota |
|
1978 |
Derek WARWICK (GBR) Vandervell |
Ralt/March -Toyota |
|
|
Nelson PIQUET (BRA) BP |
Ralt-Toyota |
|
1977 |
Stephen SOUTH (GBR) Vandervell |
March-Toyota |
|
|
Derek DALY (IRL) BP |
Chevron-Toyota |
|
1976 |
Bruno GIACOMELLI (ITA) Shellsport |
March-Toyota |
|
|
Rupert KEEGAN (GBR) BP |
March/Chevron -Toyota |
|
1975 |
Gunnar NILSSON (SWE) |
March-Toyota |
|
1974 |
Brian HENTON (GBR) Forward Trust |
March-Ford/Toyota |
|
|
Brian HENTON (GBR) Lombard |
March-Ford/Toyota |
|
1973 |
Ian TAYLOR (GBR) Forward Trust |
March-Ford |
|
|
Tony BRISE (GBR) John Player |
March-Ford |
|
|
Tony BRISE (GBR) Lombard |
March-Ford |
|
1972 |
Rikki von OPEL (LIE) Lombard |
Ensign-Ford |
|
|
Roger WILLIAMSON (GBR) Forward Trust |
GRD-Ford |
|
|
Roger WILLIAMSON (GBR) Shell |
GRD-Ford |
|
1971 |
Dave WALKER (GBR) Shell |
Lotus-Ford |
|
|
Dave WALKER (GBR) Forward Trust |
Lotus-Ford |
|
|
Roger WILLIAMSON (GBR) Lombard |
March-Ford |
|
1970 |
Tony TRIMMER (GBR) Shell |
Brabham/Lotus -Ford |
|
|
Dave WALKER (GBR) Lombank |
Lotus-Ford |
|
|
Carlos PACE (BRA) Forward Trust |
Lotus-Ford |
|
1969 |
Emerson FITTIPALDI (BRA) |
Lotus-Ford |
|
1968 |
Tim SCHENKEN (AUS) Lombank |
Chevron/Titan/Brabham -Ford |
|
|
Harry STILLER (GBR) Les Leston |
Brabham-Ford |
|
1967 |
Harry STILLER (GBR) |
Brabham-Ford |
|
1966 |
Harry STILLER (GBR) |
Brabham-Ford |
|
1965 |
Tony DEAN (GBR) |
Brabham-Ford |
|
|
Roy PIKE (GBR) |
Brabham-Ford |
|
1964 |
Jackie STEWART (GBR) Express & Star |
Cooper-BMC |
|
|
Rod BANTING (GBR) BRSCC |
Lotus-BMC |
|
1961 |
Mike LEDBROOK (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1960 |
Jack PITCHER (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1959 |
Don PARKER (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1958 |
Trevor TAYLOR (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1957 |
Jim RUSSELL (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1956 |
Jim RUSSELL (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1955 |
Jim RUSSELL (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
|
Henry TAYLOR (GBR) JAP |
Cooper-JAP |
|
1954 |
Les LESTON (GBR) BRSCC |
Cooper-Norton |
|
1953 |
Don PARKER (GBR) Autosport |
Kieft-Norton |
|
1952 |
Don PARKER (GBR) Autosport |
Kieft-Norton |
|
1951 |
Eric BRANDON (GBR) Autosport |
Cooper-Norton |
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