British Formula 3 1980
Three real talents contested the 1980 British F3 title, Stefan Johansson, Kenneth Acheson and Roberto Guerrero. Johannson started the year in a Marlboro Project Four March 803 and developed a points lead until Acheson swapped his 803 for an older and easier to drive 793 and became the man to beat. Guerrero then took up the chase in the works Argo JM6 and each had won five races by the season's July/August break. The momentum swung decisively when Johansson took delivery of a Ralt RT3 and swept the last four races, snatching the title by just two points from his two rivals.
Although the ground-effect RT3 had shown promise in 1979, none were raced in Britain at the start of the season and March 803s were numerically dominant. But the 803 was a very new design, based on the ground-effect F2 792 design, and it took some time to get it working properly. A mid-season update kit transformed it, but the reputational damage was done and March's grip on Formula 3 was significantly weakened.
The races
02 Mar 1980 > Silverstone
09 Mar 1980 > Thruxton
30 Mar 1980 > Brands Hatch
07 Apr 1980 > Thruxton
20 Apr 1980 > Silverstone
27 Apr 1980 > Howitt Printing Trophy at Donington Park
06 May 1980 > Thruxton
11 May 1980 > Snetterton
26 May 1980 > Silverstone
01 Jun 1980 > Cadwell Park
08 Jun 1980 > Silverstone
29 Jun 1980 > Brands Hatch
06 Jul 1980 > Silverstone
13 Jul 1980 > Brands Hatch
19 Jul 1980 > Oulton Park
25 Aug 1980 > Silverstone
07 Sep 1980 > Bradford & Bingley Trophy at Silverstone
14 Sep 1980 > Leinster Trophy at Mondello Park
28 Sep 1980 > Mallory Park
05 Oct 1980 > Silverstone
18 Oct 1980 > Oulton Park
26 Oct 1980 > Thruxton
08 Nov 1980 > Wendy Wools Formula 3 Race at Thruxton
Vandervell British Formula 3 Championship events shown in bold
1980 Vandervell British Formula 3 Championship table
| 1 | Stefan Johansson | March 803 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor March 803B - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor Ralt RT3/80 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 97 pts | 6 wins |
| 2 | Kenneth Acheson | March 803 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor March 793 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor March 803B - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 95 pts | 5 wins |
| 3 | Roberto Guerrero | Argo JM6 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 95 pts | 5 wins |
| 4 | Thierry Tassin | Argo JM6 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 59 pts | 2 wins |
| 5 | Rob Wilson | Ralt RT3/80 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 40 pts | |
| 6 | Mike White | March 803 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor March 803B - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 37 pts | 1 win |
| 7 | Brett Riley | March 783/793 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor March 803B - Alfa Romeo Novamotor | 20 pts | 1 win |
| 8 | David Sears | Argo JM6 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor Ralt RT3/80 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 19 pts | |
| 9 | Nigel Mansell | March 803 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 15 pts | |
| 10 | Eddie Jordan | March 803 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor March 793 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor Ralt RT3/80 - Toyota 2T-G Novamotor | 15 pts |
Points table from Autosport 20 November 1980 p32.
Almost everyone used Toyota engines, but Dave Price Racing and the works March team tried Alfa Romeo engines in March 803s. A Titan-built Chevrolet Vega was used in another 803, and an old Triumph Dolomite engine appeared in an older March.