F3 History

Category: 1971 Race Reports

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Race Report: Nurburgring, 12 April 1971

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Race Report: Nurburgring, 12 April 1971

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Held over the Nurburgring’s South Circuit, 19 cars arrived for this 13 lap race. Many of the field were German runners and it is likely that several of the older cars (like Peter Hanson’s Tecno) were running 1-litre engines.

James Hunt’s March 713 won from Manfred  placed Tecno was fitted with a 1-litre engine.

Möhr’s Lotus 69. The Marches of Kern and Bülow were third and fourth with Freddy Kottulinsky finishing fifth after starting on the back row of the grid. Hanson’s seventh

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Nurburgring, 12 April 1971

Qualifying

1 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713S 3:05.6

2 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Novamotor 69 3:06.0

3 Dieter Kern

March 713S 3:07.0

4 Wolfgang Bülow

March 713S 3:07.0

5 Hermann Unold

March 713 3:11.8

Race

1 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713S 40:24.3 13 149.5

2 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Novamotor 69 40:33.4 13

3 Dieter Kern

March-Ford 713S 41:07.7 13

4 Wolfgang Bülow

March-Novamotor 713M 41:12.3 13

6 Ruedi Gygax

March-Ford 713M 42:29.2 13

7 Peter Hanson

Tecno-Novamotor 42:29.5 13

8 Franz Pesch

March-Ford 713 43.08.4 13

9 Roger Hurst

March-Ford 703 12

10 Hermann Unold

March-Ford 713 12

11 Horst Seidel

Tecno-Ford

12 Josef Kremer

March-Ford 703

13 Willi Deutsch

March-Ford 713

14 Hannelore Werner

March-Ford 713

15 Hans Werner

Tecno-Ford

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Race Report: Cadwell Park, 9 April 1971

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Race Report: Cadwell Park, 9 April 1971

In view of the generally low turnouts for these early season races and the relative remoteness of Cadwell Park it is not perhaps too surprising that only seven cars arrived at the circuit for this Forward Trust round and this was almost immediately reduced to six when Brendan McInerney’s road car died on the way north stranding him. A welcome newcomer to the F3 ranks was the Palliser WFD3 of Derek Lawrence with an unusual engine tuner for F3, BRM.

Dave Walker, running a very low profile set of Firestones took pole position by the relatively huge margin of 1.6 seconds from Ian Ashley’s similar Novamotor powered Lotus 69. Completing the front row was the March 713M of Tom Walkinshaw with a new Harvey tuned engine to replace the now destroyed Lloyd version. Derek Lawrence was next up, the car showing its newness with only a few laps at Silverstone behind it, fuel surge blighting the Palliser’s qualifying. Slowest by quite some margin was the Brabham-Holbay BT35 of Chris O’Brien.

Ashley made a quick getaway, too quick as it turned out and he was duly rewarded with a 1 minute penalty. Walkinshaw took the lead and managed to hold Walker and Ashley at bay for a few laps but eventually Walker got ahead and strolled away to an easy 14 second victory. The rest of the field toured around to complete the race distance without incident.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Cadwell Park, 9 April 1971

Qualifying

1 Dave Walker

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:35.0

2 Ian Ashley

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:36.6

3 Tom Walkinshaw

March-Harvey 713M 1:37.0

4 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1:38.8

5 Derek Lawrence

Palliser-BRM WFD3 1:43.2

6 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:48.4

Race

1 Dave Walker

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:35.0

2 Ian Ashley

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:36.6

3 Tom Walkinshaw

March-Harvey 713M 1:37.0

4 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1:38.8

5 Derek Lawrence

Palliser-BRM WFD3 1:43.2

6 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:48.4

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Race Report: Silverstone 4 April 1971

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Race Report: Silverstone 4 April 1971

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Taking place the day after the Shell/Motor Sport round at Brands Hatch it was hardly surprising that only seven cars made the journey to Silverstone for this Forward Trust event. Dave Walker put the Gold Leaf Team Lotus 69, still suffering with clutch problems, on pole ahead of Roger Williamson’s March 713M, also on the front row were Andy Sutcliffe in a Lotus 69 chassis that had suffered some damage at Brands Hatch and the Brabham BT35 of Brendan McInerney. On the second and final(!) row were Tim Goss in his March 713M, Tom Walkinshaw with a standard engine in his March 713M following a blowup of his race unit and Chris O’Brien in his Brabham BT35.

Walker made a leisurely start to preserve his clutch allowing Sutcliife to take the lead, this only lasted as far as Becketts when Williamson went sailing past into first place. However by Woodcote Walker had surged past both cars into a lead he was not to loose. Williamson and Sutcliffe then proceeded to have a mighty tussle, Sutcliffe apparently not being slowed after knocking his nose cone askew after contact with Williamson. On the last lap Williamson braked as late as possible into Woodcote and aided by Sutcliffe missing a gear held on for second place. McInerney, Goss and Walkinshaw followed the first three home after each having a troublefree, if lonely, race.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Silverstone 4 April 1971

Qualifying

1 Colin Vandervell

Brabham-Rowland BT35 1:38.4

2 Bev Bond

Ensign-Holbay LN1 1:38.6

3 Dave Walker

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:39.0

4 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1:40.6

5 Ian Ashley

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:41.2

6 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:41.8

7 Claude Bourgoignie

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:41.8

8 Tim Goss

March-Holbay 713M 1:42.2

9 Alan Joy

Brabham-Rowland BT28 1:42.2

10 Andy Sutcliffe

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:42.2

11 Jean-Louis Lafosse

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:42.6

12 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713S 1:43.8

13 Richard Longman

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:44.2

14 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:48.6

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:50.2

Lotus-Novamotor 69 NT

Race

1 Bev Bond

Ensign-Holbay LN1 1-07:03.0 40 94.85

2 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1-07:04.8 40

3 Ian Ashley

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1-07:44.4 40

4 Claude Bourgoignie

Lotus-Holbay 69 1-08:05.6 40

5 Dave Walker

Lotus-Novamotor 69

6 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 39

7 Tim Goss

March-Holbay 713M 39

8 Bernard Lagier

Brabham-Holbay BT35 36

9 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 36

10 Richard Longman

Lotus-Holbay 69 31

11 Andy Sutcliffe

Lotus-Holbay 69 31

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Race Report: Brands Hatch, 3 April 1971

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Race Report: Brands Hatch, 3 April 1971

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Fifteen cars from an entry of 36 actually arrived at Brands Hatch for this round of the Shell/Motor Sport Championship. Most numerous chassis was Brabham with six cars, Colin Vandervell in his usual Rowland powered BT35, Holbay versions were on hand for Brendan McInerney, Chris O’Brien and from France Jean-Louis Lafosse and Bernard Lagier. Alan Joy was in his updated BT28 Rowland. Five Lotus 69s, three of them new models were the next numerous type, previously seen were the Holbay powered cars of Andy Sutcliffe and Claude Bourgoignie. New chassis were in the hands of Dave Walker in the works Gold Leaf car, although it was only new in the sense it hadn’t been seen this year, it was in fact a Lotus 59 updated to 69

spec,  it was fitted with a Novamotor engine. A similar power unit was to be found in the Ian Ashley car that was likewise an updated 59, whilst Richard Longman relied on a Holbay for his “proper” 69. Three Marches came next, all Holbay powered, James Hunt had his usual spaceframe model with Roger Williamson and Tim Goss in the monocoque version. Final entry was the singleton Ensign-Holbay for Bev Bond.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 3 April 1971

Qualifying

1 Colin Vandervell

Brabham-Rowland BT35 1:38.4

2 Bev Bond

Ensign-Holbay LN1 1:38.6

3 Dave Walker

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:39.0

4 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1:40.6

5 Ian Ashley

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1:41.2

6 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:41.8

7 Claude Bourgoignie

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:41.8

8 Tim Goss

March-Holbay 713M 1:42.2

9 Alan Joy

Brabham-Rowland BT28 1:42.2

10 Andy Sutcliffe

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:42.2

11 Jean-Louis Lafosse

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:42.6

12 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713S 1:43.8

13 Richard Longman

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:44.2

14 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:48.6

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:50.2

Lotus-Novamotor 69 NT

Race

1 Bev Bond

Ensign-Holbay LN1 1-07:03.0 40 94.85

2 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1-07:04.8 40

3 Ian Ashley

Lotus-Novamotor 69 1-07:44.4 40

4 Claude Bourgoignie

Lotus-Holbay 69 1-08:05.6 40

5 Dave Walker

Lotus-Novamotor 69

6 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 39

7 Tim Goss

March-Holbay 713M 39

8 Bernard Lagier

Brabham-Holbay BT35 36

9 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 36

10 Richard Longman

Lotus-Holbay 69 31

11 Andy Sutcliffe

Lotus-Holbay 69 31

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Race Report: Snetterton, 28 March 1971

Race Report: Snetterton, 28 March 1971

Snetterton

A disappointing field of six runners arrived for this Lombank round so the race was combined with Formule Libre and Clubmen’s cars. The Brabham BT35s of Brendan McInerney and Colin Vandervell were joint quickest in practice and proceeded to lead away from the flag chased by the March-Holbay 713M of Roger Williamson and Andy Sutcliffe in his Lotus-Holbay 69. McInerney was slowed by a failing battery eventually stopping but managing to restart and get to the finish albeit a lap down. Sutcliffe and Williamson had a good dice until gear selection problems towards the end of the race severely hampered Sutcliife. Poor Tim Goss (March 713M) missed the start due to a jammed starter motor when over efficient marshalls waved him off the track after a brief agreement Goss was allowed back on the track although by this time he had lost two and a half laps and was further hampered by a sticking throttle. Chris O’Brien gained some useful racing experience (as well as some Lombank points) by keeping out of everyone’s way on his way to fifth.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Snetterton, 28 March 1971

Race

1 Colin Vandervell

Brabham-Rowland BT35 16:42.0 10

2 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713 M 10

3 Andy Sutcliffe

Lotus-Holbay 69 10

4 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 9

5 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 9

6 Tim Goss

March 713M 8

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Race Report: Montlhéry, 28 March 1971

Race Report: Montlhéry, 28 March 1971

Montlery
James Hunt fought a tough race at Montlhéry in the Challenge Raymond Sommer, beating the two works Alpines of Depailler and Jabouille. Christian Ethuin led for a time in the new works Tecno until fuel starvation struck and he fell back to finish fifth.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Montlhéry, 28 March 1971

Qualifying

1 Jacques Coulon

Martini-Ford MW7 1:36.5

Race

1 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713M 31:57.3

2 Patrick Depailler

Alpine-Renault A360 31:58.0

3 Jean-Pierre Jabouille

Alpine-Renault A360 31:58.1

4 François Migault

Martini-Ford MW7 32:22.3

5 Christian Ethuin

Tecno-Renault TF71/3 32:50.3

6 Bernard Lagier

Brabham-Ford BT35 33:00.3

7 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 33:01.3

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Race Report: Brands Hatch, 21 March 1971

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 21 March 1971

Brands Hatch
An improved entry of 16 cars arrived for this first round of the Shell Super Oil Championship, there were Brabham BT35s for Colin Vandervell, Brendan McInerney and Chris O’Brien and a BT28 for Alan Joy. Marches appeared for James Hunt with a spaceframe 713S, whilst Tim Goss, Roger Williamson and Tom Walkinshaw had the monocoque 713M variants. There were also four Lotus 69s with Gerry Birrell in the ex-works test hack, and Andy Sutcliffe, Claude Bourgoignie and Fabrizio Noe in their production versions. Two Martini MW7s were on hand for Patrice Compain and Jacques Coulon whilst there were singleton entries for Bev Bond (Ensign LN1) and Bob Evans (Puma).

Both of the qualifying sessions were held in wet conditions and there was a certain amount of indecision as to what tyres to use but most of the quickest times were set on Dunlops, at the end of the day Gerry Birrell was fastest in both sessions to take pole from Colin Vandervell, Brendan McInerney and a surprised Bob Evans, Bev Bond’s Ensign only did a limited number of laps due to a faulty high pressure fuel pump. Neither Noe or O’Brien managed to set qualifying times after accidents, O’Brien’s damaging the chassis too badly to continue with the meeting.

The race started on a nearly dry track although there were plenty of black clouds overhead, Hunt made an excellent start from the second row to take the lead from Birrell, Vandervell and Williamson, these four together with McInerney, Bond and Walkinshaw soon pulling away from the rest of the pack. Bob Evans was an early pit visitor with timing problems to his engine after mistakenly advancing the camshaft timing. Bond soon began to make his move, passing Birrell, Vandervell and Hunt on successive laps to take the lead on lap 6. Hunt stayed with Bond for several laps until a sticking throttle and a broken fuel pipe ended his race. Bond slowly stretched his lead over Vandervell to 4 seconds by lap 15 whilst Birrell held third despite a damaged nosecone. Vandervell began to close again on Bond until he was sitting on his tail by lap 26. On lap 29 Bond spun at Stirlings following gear selection problems and a recalcitrant 2nd gear and fell to fourth behind Vandervell, Birrell and Walkinshaw.

Bond quickly reeled in Walkinshaw and Birrell and set off after Vandervell who was having to drive cautiously with sagging oil pressure. Going into the final lap Bond was just over a second behind Vandervell, he closed up all round the track and dived inside the Brabham at Clearways. However Vandervell had the better line and took the chequered flag inches ahead of the fast finishing Ensign. The two drivers were so close at the finish that they were given the same finishing time. Birrell was a second behind the battling duo in third place ahead of Walkinshaw who was having a petrol bath due to a broken fuel line and Williamson. All the other finishers were a lap or more behind these first four.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 21 March 1971

Qualifying

1 Gerry Birrell

Lotus-Holbay 69 1:54.1

2 Colin Vandervell

Brabham-Rowland BT35 1:54.9

3 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 1:56.0

4 Bob Evans

Puma-Piper 1:56.1

5 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713M 1:56.6

6 Jacques Coulon

Martini-Rowland MW7 1:57.4

7 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1:57.8

8 Tim Goss

March-Holbay 713M 1:58.0

9 Tom Walkinshaw

March-Lloyd 713M 1:58.5

10 Patrice Compain

Martini-Rowland MW7 ?

11 Andy Sutcliffe

Lotus-Holbay 69 2:03.3

12 Claude Bourgoignie

Lotus-Holbay 69 2:03.5

13 Bev Bond

Ensign-Holbay LN1 2:30.2

14 Alan Joy

Brabham-Rowland BT28 2:42.1

15 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Novamotor 69 NT

16 Chris O'Brien

Brabham-Holbay BT35 NT

Race

1 Colin Vandervell

Brabham-Rowland BT35 1-07:38.1 40 94.03

2 Bev Bond

Ensign-Holbay LN1 1-07:38.1 40

3 Gerry Birrell

Lotus-Holbay 69 1-07:39.3 40

4 Tom Walkinshaw

March-Lloyd 713M 1-08:34.1 40

5 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 1-08:43.2 40

6 Patrice Compain

Martini-Rowland MW7 39

7 Jacques Coulon

Martini-Rowland MW7 39

8 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 39

9 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Novamotor 69 35

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Race Report: Mallory Park, 14 March 1971

Race Report: Mallory Park, 14 March 1971

Mallory Park
Britain’s first ever 1600cc F3 race boasted an 18 car entry for this first round of the Lombank Championship, unfortunately only 4 arrived! Bev Bond’s works Ensign wasn’t quite finished in time whilst Tom Walkinshaw decided to miss the race as his March 713 didn’t seem quick enough. When he arrived at the track and found the new 1600s were a second a lap slower than the 1-litre cars he decided he might have been a bit hasty.
Pole position for the race went to James Hunt in his works run Rose Bearings March 713S with Colin Vandervell’s Castrol sponsored works Brabham BT35 second, Roger Williamson (March 713M) next and Brendan McInerney (Brabham BT35) bringing up the rear in his unsorted car.
Due to the small number of starters the F Fords that had raced earlier were invited out for another run which as Vandervell’s oil-pump drive sheared in the paddock was probably a very good idea. At the start Hunt disappeared into the distance whilst Williamson got boxed in behind some F Fords, only managing to get past on the penultimate lap. McInerney was black flagged for loose suspension and spent two laps in the pits but still finished 3rd in class.
After the race a plug in the airbox were scrutineers check the vacuum was found to be missing from Hunt’s car so the results were announced provisionally pending an RAC inquiry. As a result of this investigation Hunt was subsequently disqualified.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Mallory Park, 14 March 1971

Qualifying

1 James Hunt

March-Holbay 713S 49.2

2 Colin Vandervell

Brabham-Rowland BT35

3 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M

4 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35

Race

1 Roger Williamson

March-Holbay 713M 12:59.6 15

2 Brendan McInerney

Brabham-Holbay BT35 13

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Race Report: Monza, 7 March 1971

Race Report: Monza, 7 March 1971

Monza
The first race of the 1600cc F3 era, the XX Trofeo Bruno e Fofi Vigorelli, took place at Monza with a small field of 11 starters racing on the shorter Junior circuit. Since 1-litre F3 cars were still allowed to race against the 1600cc cars in Italy it is likely that some of the starters used the smaller capacity engine, Adelmo Fossati’s Brabham BT28 would seem to have been one such car.

Despite the small number of starters two 20 lap heats and a 31 lap final were run, the first heat went to Vittorio Brambilla driving a Birel powered by a F3 version of the twin-cam Alfa Giuila with Fabrizio Noe’s Lotus 69 second. Victor in the second heat was Lo Voy’s Brabham ahead of Fossati’s Brabham BT28 and Patrice Compain’s Martini MW7, the race had to be stopped after 15 laps. In the final Brambilla won by only 0.4 seconds from Marcello Gallo in his Brabham BT28.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Monza, 7 March 1971

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

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