Formula 3 (F3) « OldRacingCars.com

Jean-Pierre Jaussaud in the '69 F3 Tecno at Brands Hatch in September 1969. Copyright Chris Bennett 2014. Used with permission.

Formula 3

Formula 3 has a very long tradition, especially in Britain where the 500cc racing movement of the late 1940s grew into the international Formula 3. Formula Junior took its place in the late 1950s but it was reintroduced in 1964 for 1000cc engines. During the late 1960s, F3 was popular right across Europe, with a circus of drivers moving from country to country each weekend. As the formula was changed from the high-revving 1-litre engines to less noisy restricted 1600cc engines in 1971, Formula 3 moved into a new era. The category was now more professional, with the scruffy cars of the past now few and unlikely to get a race. Championships had grown in importance over individual races, with the Shell title being the most important, followed by the other two British titles and the national championships in France, Italy and Sweden. As a result, the races in places such as Belgium, Finland and East Germany attracted fewer competitors and faded from the scene. Germany and Switzerland continued to run races for 1-litre cars for some time.

After three years dominated by Ford twin cams, F3 changed to a 2000cc formula in 1974, and it is still running to broadly the same formula today. At first, the size of grids reduced dramatically, as it had done in 1971, but recovered by the end of 1975. However, France dropped F3 for these two years, preferring to promote a continental version of Formula Renault, until they returned to F3 in 1976. A FIA European championship was introduced in 1975 and ran until 1984 when it was dropped to make space for F3000, and replaced by a one-race European Cup.

Cooper were the biggest name of the 500cc era and Brabham similarly dominated the 1960s 1-litre and 1.6-litre period. March, Chevron, Ralt and Martini fought through the 1970s before the Ralt RT3s started to dominate from 1982 onwards.

All results and car histories compiled by Chris Townsend.

Please email Allen if you have any British or European F3 race programmes.

Championships covered

European F3
British F3
Italian F3
French F3
Swedish F3
German F3 (to follow)
Danish F3 (to follow)
Japanese F3 (to follow)

Regulations

1950: Based on British post-war 500cc racing using motorcycle engines. The one-cylinder JAP engine was one of the most popular.

1964: 1000cc normally aspirated single-carburettor engines from FIA Group 1 or Group 2 cars (minimum production 1000 cars per annum), also using production gearboxes and commercial fuel. These highly-modified engines are now remembered as the 'screamer' era. Minimum weight 400kg; minimum wheelbase 200cm; minimum track 110cm; maximum body width 95cm. Air inlet restricted to 36mm.

1971: 1600cc engines but with a 20mm air inlet.

1974: 2000cc normally aspirated stock block engines with a 24mm air inlet. Maximum of four cylinders. Toyota, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Renault, Triumph, Volkswagen, Lancia and BMW engines were used successfully.

The cars

The main cars in the British series during the 1975-1986 period were the Anson SA3C; Argo JM6 and Argo JM8; Chevron B34, Chevron B38, Chevron B43 and Chevron B47; GRD 373, GRD 374 and GRD 375; Lola T770; March 733, March 743, March 753, March 763, March 773, March 783, March 793, March 803 and March 813; Modus M1; Ralt RT1, Ralt RT3, Ralt RT3/80, Ralt RT3/81, Ralt RT3/82, Ralt RT3/83, Ralt RT3/84, Ralt RT30 and Ralt RT30/86; and Reynard 853 and Reynard 863.

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