1985 British Formula Three Championship

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]

The scoring system was 9-6-4-3-2-1 points for the first six positions, wuth 1 (one) extra point added to the driver who set the fastest lap of the race.

BARC/BRDC Marlboro British F3 Championship

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Champion:   Maurício Gugelmin

Runner Up:   Andy Wallace

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

Results

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Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship

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Date Round Circuit Winning driver Winning team Winning car
03/03/85 Rd.1   Silverstone (National)   Andy Wallace Swallow Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
10/03/85 Rd.2   Thruxton   Russell Spence PMC Warmastyle Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
24/03/85 Rd.3   Silverstone   Russell Spence PMC Warmastyle Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
08/04/85 Rd.4   Thruxton   Russell Spence PMC Warmastyle Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
14/04/85 Rd.5   Donington Park   Andy Wallace Swallow Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
21/04/85 Rd.6   Zolder   Russell Spence PMC Warmastyle Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
06/05/85 Rd.7   Thruxton   Gary Evans Murray Taylor Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
27/05/85 Rd.8   Thruxton   Andy Wallace Swallow Racing Reynard-Volkswagen 853
09/06/85 Rd.9   Silverstone   Maurício Gugelmin West Surrey Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
23/06/85 Rd.10   Brand Hatch (Indy)   Ross Cheever Valour Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
21/07/85 Rd.11   Silverstone   Gerrit van Kouwen Pegasus Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
28/07/85 Rd.12   Donington Park   Dave Scott Mint Engineering Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
11/08/85 Rd.13   Snetterton   Gerrit van Kouwen Pegasus Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
17/08/85 Rd.14   Oulton Park   Gerrit van Kouwen Pegasus Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
26/08/85 Rd.15   Silvertone (National)   Dave Scott Mint Engineering Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
01/09/85 Rd.16   Spa-Francorchamps   Ross Cheever Valour Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
15/09/95 Rd.17   Zandvoort   Maurício Gugelmin West Surrey Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30
13/10/85 Rd.18   Silverstone Circuit   Maurício Gugelmin West Surrey Racing Ralt-Volkswagen RT30

[6][4]

Championship Tables

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Class A

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Place Driver Entrant Total
1   Maurício Gugelmin West Surrey Racing 85
2   Andy Wallace Swallow Racing 76
3   Russell Spence PMC Warmastyle Racing 64
4   Dave Scott Ruchard Dutton Racing
Mint Engineering
52
5   Gerrit van Kouwen Pegasus Racing 46
6   Tim Davies Swallow Racing
Richard Dutton Racing
39
7   Ross Cheever Valour Racing 28
8   Gary Evans Murray Taylor Racing 26
9=   Harald Huysman Eddie Jordan Racing 10
  Cathy Muller David Price Racing 10
11   Andrew Gilbert-Scott Chuck McCarthy Racing 7
12   Anthony Reid Scan Sport Racing
David Price Racing
5
13   Cor Euser Team Magnum 3
14   Rob Wilson Valour Racing
CW Racing
Tarry Racing
2
15=   Dave Coyne David Price Racing 1
  Keith Fine Mike Rowe Racing
Intersport Racing
1

[4][7]

Class B

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Place Driver Entrant Total
1   Carlton Tingling Carlton Tingling 71
2   Giles Butterfield Alan Docking Racing 64
3   Mark Goddard Solar Racing 63
4   Ray Stover Richard Dutton Racing 45
5   Mike Wright Jupiter Racing 37
6   Steve Kempton Worldwide Dryer Group 35
7   Richard Parsons Solar Racing 25
8   Ross Hockenhull Richard Dutton Racing 23
9   Godfrey Hall Godfrey Hall 17
10=   Hendrik ten Cate Van Amersfoort Racing 15
  Sean Walker Richard Dutton Racing 15
12   Bill Coombes Shape Machine Motor Racing 13
13   Paul Stott Richard Dutton Racing 10
14=   Kevin James H.A.R.T. 5
  Terry Pudwell Jupiter Racing 5
16=   Ronnie Grant Ronnie Grant 4
  ”Anton Sobriquet” Jupiter Racing
CW Racing
4
18=   Ian Khan Mike Rowe Racing 2
  Rodolphe Koentges Rodolphe Koentges 2
  James Tolerton James Tolerton 2
21st   Wayne Earnshaw Solar Racing 1

[4][8][3]

References

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  1. ^ Brown, Allen. "Formula 3 (F3) « OldRacingCars.com". OldRacingCars.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  2. ^ "1985 Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  3. ^ a b "F3History – History of Formula 3 Racing". www.f3history.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  4. ^ a b c d "British Formula 3 1985 season review and full race results". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  5. ^ "Formula 3 Britain National Class 1985 standings | Driver Database". Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  6. ^ "Motorsport Winners". motorsportwinners.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  7. ^ http://driversdb.com/standings/16-1985[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ http://driversdb.com/standings/36-1985[permanent dead link]