GRD 372 car-by-car histories
Roger Williamson in the new Wheatcroft Racing GRD 372 at Zandvoort in April 1972. Licenced by Nationaal Archief, CC0 under Creative Commons licence CC0 1.0 Universeel (CC0 1.0). Original image has been cropped.
GRD's first Formula 3 car, the GRD 372, was an immediate success and won 19 F3 races during the 1972 season. Roger Williamson, Andy Sutcliffe, Tony Brise and Alan Jones all won races in GRD 372s.
GRD was born out of the ashes of Lotus Components, which Colin Chapman decided to wind up in the summer of 1971. He sacked Lotus Components boss Mike Warner, so Warner and two of his key lieutenants, Gordon Huckle and Derek Wild, formed two new companies, Group Racing Developments (GRD) and Group Racing Services (GRS). GRD would produce new cars for 1972, designed by ex-McLaren designer Jo Marquart, and GRS, headed by Huckle, would provide spares and preparation services for customers. Two other directors of GRD were John Stanton, a well-known accessory shop owner, and John Reynolds, and they combined to set up Reystan Racing as the UK concessionaire for GRD, based in Harrow. Former Lotus 69 driver Andy Sutcliffe was selected to drive the works development Formula 3 GRD 372, and GRS also ran two quasi-works entries for Pierre-François Rousselot and Neil Ginn.
The new Formula 3 car was well-received and sold strongly in Europe. Three cars were sold early in the season to Switzerland for Jo Vonlanthen, Hans-Peter Hoffman and Rolf Zumstein; two to Italy for Fernando Spreafico and Marcello Gallo; and one to Sweden for Bengt Gilhorn. The key sale for GRD after the season started was a car bought by Tom Wheatcroft for Roger Williamson to drive, replacing his March 723. Jorge Pinhol, Ian Taylor and Barrie Maskell joined the GRS line-up later in the year but despite announcing several deals, Reystan's only customer for a GRD 372 was Masami Kuwashima. More privateers joined the British F3 scene later in the season: Brabham defector Alan Jones, the Brise brothers, and Robin Smythe.
If you can add to our understanding of these cars, or have photographs that we can use, please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com.
The prototype Formula 3 GRD, chassis 011, was the second GRD built. It was entered by GRS International for Andy Sutcliffe to race in British F3 at the very end of the 1971 season and then through the early part of 1972, using Holbay engines. He won three rounds of the MCD series, at Brands Hatch and Snetterton in March, and at Rufforth at the start of April. Sutcliffe then moved to a newer car, and 011 was next seen when tested by Roger Williamson at Snetterton prior to Tom Wheatcroft ordering him a new GRD. Williamson raced the prototype at Silverstone on 14 May, his own car still being on its way back from Monaco, and won. The car was also built up again for Williamson over the late-August Bank Holiday weekend after Williamson damaged his own car in practice. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Andy Sutcliffe and Roger Williamson. First race: Brands Hatch, 24 Oct 1971. Total of 12 recorded races.
New to Jo Vonlanthen (Frauenfeld, Switzerland) and raced in F3 across Europe during 1972, mainly using Novamotor's Ford twin cam engines. Also loaned to his friend Kurt Müller (Weisfelden, Switzerland) who raced it in Swiss and German national events in 1972. He acquired a Formula 2 GRD 273 for 1973 and although he entered the 372 for the Nürburgring F3 race on 1 April 1973, did not appear. Vonlanthen did appear once more in a F3 GRD, at Hockenehim on 15 July, presumably in his 372 again. The car was then sold to Bretscher Racing for 1973 and raced by Walter P. Fluckiger (Zofingen, Switzerland) in Swiss national events, including several German F3 races that season. It is assumed that this was the car raced by Vonlanthen in the German national race at Hockenehim on 15 July 1973. It was raced by Kurt Müller again in Swiss events in the early part of the 1974 season, his class suggesting that he was using a 1600cc engine at first. Raced by him in Germany later in 1974, using a 2-litre Novamotor Toyota engine. Chris Townsend believes this car probably went to Urs Freidli, and then to Daniel Costelli in 1978.
Driven by: Jo Vonlanthen, Kurt Müller and Walter Flückiger. First race: Monza (R1), 12 Mar 1972. Total of 21 recorded races.
See the mystery GRD 372s. This is likely to be the car of Rolf Zumstein in Switzerland.
New to Hans-Peter Hoffmann (Burgdorf, Switzerland) and raced in Swiss, German and French F3 races in 1972. Retained for 1973, when he raced it in F3 events in Germany, Britain, Italy and France. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Hans-Peter Hoffmann. First race: Hockenheim, 28 May 1972. Total of 17 recorded races.
See the mystery GRD 372s. This is believed to be the car of Swedish driver Bengt Gilhorn.
Entered by GRS International for Pierre-François Rousselot and raced extensively in British F3 in 1972, using Novamotor and later Holbay engines, and sponsored by Gitanes. Raced by Neil Ginn at one early-1973 race, then entered by DART Racing with GRD for Pedro Passadore, who raced it in Britain from April to June 1973, when he moved to a newer GRD 373. The subsequent history of the 372 is unknown. This car was next seen when it was restored by Peter Denty in 1995. It was owned at that time by Kevin Buley, who had acquired the car from Chris Alford in 1994. Its FIA HTP gives its later owners as: Rolf Spiekermann (Germany ) 1997, Immo Nestrowitz (Germany) 1998, Dave Brien and Mark de Paola (California) 2002, Earl Roberts (Virgina) 2004, and Mike Knittel (Pennsylvania) 2021. It was then sold in 2023 to Matthew Christ (Amherst, NH).
Driven by: Pierre-François Rousselot, Neil Ginn and Pedro Passadore. First race: Brands Hatch (R1), 5 Mar 1972. Total of 30 recorded races.
Entered by GRS International for Scottish Formula Ford champion Neil Ginn and raced extensively in British F3 in 1972, using Novamotor engines. It was sponsored by Lyle & Scott's 'Y-front' underwear range. Retained for Ginn for 1973. The car had to be rebuilt on a borrowed tub after his accident in practice at Oulton Park on Good Friday. Ginn's last race was at Oulton Park at the end of May. In January 1974, Ginn advertised his "1973 GRD model" which came with "brand new tub and new bodywork" as well as a Novamotor engine and Hewland Mk 8 gearbox.
Driven by: Neil Ginn. First race: Brands Hatch (R1), 5 Mar 1972. Total of 32 recorded races.
New to Fernando Spreafico and entered for him by Scuderia Italia in Italian F3 races in 1972, usually using Wainer Alfa Romeo engines. Retained by Spreafico for 1973, again in Italian F3 and entered by Scuderia Italia, but now with Novamotor Ford engines. Retained again for 1974, when it was described as a 373, used 2-litre Alfa Romeo engines and was entered by Scuderia Concordia. Retained again for 1975 and for 1976, after which it was replaced with a Chevron B34. The subsequent history of the GRD is unknown.
Driven by: Fernando Spreafico and Lorenzo Sassi. First race: Monza (R2), 16 Apr 1972. Total of 48 recorded races.
Entered by GRS International for Andy Sutcliffe for a few races in British F3 in April 1972, using Holbay engines. Then entered for young Portuguese driver Jorge Pinhol for the rest of the season, but he often failed to appear and may have only been at eight races, starting as few as three. Pinhol's car had been announced in early February, but he did not appear until the end of April. His last definite appearance was at Thruxon on 6 August but his entries continued until the start of October. The car was then run for Formula Ford star Johnny Gerber as an Ippokampos Racing entry but run by GRS International at Brands Hatch on 22 October 1972. The ex-Pinhol car went to Roger Craven (Lincoln) for British F3 in 1973, using RES and Vegantune engines. Also used by Craven very successfully in libre racing that season. It was advertised by Craven's entrant, L & K Racing Team (Lincoln) with a Neil Brown engine in November 1973 and from the same Lincoln telephone numbers in February 1974. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Andy Sutcliffe, Jorge Pinhol, Johnny Gerber and Roger Craven. First race: Silverstone (R2), 16 Apr 1972. Total of 26 recorded races.
New to Reystan Racing Ltd for Masami Kuwashima to drive in British F3 in 1972, using Holbay engines. To John MacDonald for British F3 in 1973, when it was described as being the remains of Kuwashima's 1972 car built up around a new tub. Raced until October 1973, when it was said to have been sold to Ireland. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Masami Kuwashima and John MacDonald. First race: Snetterton (R2), 26 Mar 1972. Total of 37 recorded races.
New to Marcello Gallo for Italian F3 in 1972, but raced by various drivers that season, usually entered by Scuderia Delta Corse. It appeared again in 1973, again for various drivers. It was next seen in 1975 when it was described as a 373 and entered by Comete Racing Team for Giancarlo Comazzi to drive. Raced by Duilio Ghislotti in 1976. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Marcello Gallo, Adelmo Fossati, Giuseppe Bianchi, Cesare Doneda, Lorenzo Sassi, Luigi Fontanesi, Fernando Spreafico, Luigino Grassi, Chuck McCarty, Bernard Vermillio, Aldo Fasan, Pino Pica, Giancarlo Comazzi and Duilio Ghislotti. First race: Imola (R3), 1 May 1972. Total of 21 recorded races.
Masami Kuwashima's GRD 372 at Thruxton in March 1973. Copyright Keith Lewcock 2023. Used with permission.
Entered by GRS International for Ian Taylor and Barrie Maskell in British F3 in late 1972, using Holbay and Vegantune engines. To Reystan Racing for Masami Kuwashima for a few races in early 1973 until Kuwashima acquired a March 733, but this 1973 car has also been identified as chassis 033. Then entered by Reystan partner John Stanton for Richard Knight to drive (as a 373) for two races in May 1973. Then to Rod Smith and entered for him by ADM Business Systems Ltd from September onwards, but "totalled" in an accident during practice for the race at Brands Hatch in early November 1973.
Driven by: Ian Taylor, Barrie Maskell, Masami Kuwashima, Richard Knight and Rod Smith. First race: Mallory Park (R12), 1 Oct 1972. Total of 13 recorded races.
Entered by GRS International for Keiichi Tahara at two races in June and July 1972. To Team Cowangie for Larry Perkins to drive in British and French F3 in 1973 but although the car was identified as chassis 032, it was once referred to as "ex-Jones" [his own chassis 033-F3 or the ex-Sutcliffe GRS car] and also once as ex-Rousselot [the GRS chassis 021]. Jones had retained 033 for the start of 1973 and the ex-Rousselot 021-F3 was driven in 1973 by Pedro Passadore, so neither are likely. Perkins badly damaged the car in practice at Paul Ricard on 1 July 1973. When he returned to racing, he first borrowed the works Ensign and then acquired a Brabham BT41, indicating that the GRD was not repaired.
Driven by: Larry Perkins. First race: Silverstone (R2), 18 Mar 1973. Total of 11 recorded races.
New to Alan Jones and raced in British F3 from mid-July 1972, using Vegantune engines. Used for one race at the start of 1973 after Jones' new GRD 373 was written off in testing at Snetterton. The subsequent history of the 372 is unknown.
Driven by: Alan Jones. First race: Brands Hatch (R9), 15 Jul 1972. Total of 13 recorded races.
New to 18-year-old Tim Brise, younger brother of Tony Brise, and raced in British F3 from late July 1972, using Holbay engines. Wrecked in an accident at Brands Hatch in mid-August when the GRD flipped and hit the bank at Druids. He returned at Thruxton in late September 1972, but his last definite appearance was a week later at Mallory Park. He did not return to F3 until 1975, and the fate of the GRD 372 is unknown. One distinct possibility is that the ex-Tim car was sold as ex-Tony and this is the car used in Formula 4 from 1973 to 1978.
Driven by: Tim Brise. First race: Thruxton (R7), 30 Jul 1972. Total of 4 recorded races.
New to Tony Brise and raced in British F3 from late August 1972, using Holbay engines and sponsored by Montesa Motorcycles. Retained as a spare car by Brise in early 1973 and raced a few times in preference to his new 373, entered by Team Kent Messenger Racing. After the Monaco GP, Brise bought a March 733 and both his GRDs were retired. About five weeks later, Justin Haler arranged for Barrie Maskell to drive a GRD in the British GP support race at Silverstone in July 1973. Autosport described the car as "the ex-Brise GRD", later adding that it was a 373, and Motoring News called it a brand new 373. It seems more likely that this was Tony's 373 than either of the 372s. Tony's 372 would be the GRD 372 raced by his father John Brise in a libre race at Snetterton in September 1973.
This must be the "Tony Brise's 372 GRD-Holbay" that was "rebuilt "after recent shunt" advertised from Swanley in Kent in November 1973. It must also be the GRD 372 "as raced by Tony Brise" advertised by Tony Brise (Swanley, Kent) in February 1974. It was next seen when raced by Gavin Hooper in Formula 4 in April 1974, when it was described as "ex-Tony Brise". Raced by Ronnie and Dave Griffiths in F4 in 1975 and 1976. To Keith Hatton for F4 in 1977. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Tony Brise, John Brise, Gavin Hooper, Dave Griffiths and Keith Hatton. First race: Oulton Park (R10), 26 Aug 1972. Total of 26 recorded races.
New to Robin Smythe (Hounslow, Greater London) replacing a March 723 he had raced earlier in the season. Smythe converted the car to Formula Atlantic specification for 1973 and although it was often entered for BP Formula Atlantic events, Smythe's actual race starts were rare. Throughout that season, his older March 723 was raced as a Formula Atlantic by Johnny Dimsdale and by Reg James. In 1974, the GRD was described as a 274 and continued to fail to appear or fail to start championship events, but was a regular starter in Formule Libre events at Silverstone and at Brands Hatch. It was not seen in 1975, but made a couple of entries in ShellSport championship events in 1976, predictably failing to appear. The car is believed to have gone to Dave Saunders in 1976, but that may have been a hire deal, and then later spent time in French hillclimbs before returning to the UK.
Driven by: Robin Smythe and Reg James. First race: Brands Hatch (R14), 22 Oct 1972. Total of 18 recorded races.
Unidentified GRD 372s in 1972
Thanks to various references in publications Autosport, Motoring News, Autosprint and ONS Meitellungen, a few programme annotations, and the period observations of Adam Ferrington and Duncan Rabagliati, we have period chassis number references for 17 Formula 3 GRDs: 011 (Andy Sutcliffe), 013 (Jo Vonlanthen and Kurt Müller), 017 (Hans-Peter Hoffman), 021 (GRS/Pierre-François Rousselot), 022 (GRS/Neil Ginn), 023 (Fernando Spreafico), 024 (GRS/Jorge Pinhol), 025 (Reystan/Masami Kuwashima), 026 (Marcello Gallo), 028 (GRS/Andy Sutcliffe?), 029 (GRS/Pinhol?), 030 (GRS/Ian Taylor), 032 (GRS/Keichi Tahara), 033 (Alan Jones), 034 (Tim Brise), 035 (Tony Brise) and 036 (Robin Smythe). However, there is some uncertainty around the way 024, 028 and 029 were used.
This leaves four cars for which chassis numbers have not been determined: Roger Williamson's Wheatcroft Racing 372-Holbay, Bengt Gilhorn's 372-Holbay, a new works car built for Andy Sutcliffe, and the Swiss car of Rolf Zumstein. Williamson's car was completed in a rush, so it may have appeared out of order.
GRD numbered all its cars in a single sequence, regardless of whether they were built for Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula B or sports cars. Looking right across the 1972 production, there are only six chassis numbers whose first owners are not known or are uncertain: 015, 018, and then a group of four later cars: 027, 028, 029 and 031. It is distinctly possible that 015-F3 was Rolf Zumstein's car, as that was announced in February even though its first known race was not until Monza on 21 May. However, Zumstein could have been sharing Hoffman's 017-F3. Also, we have an indirect reference to Bengt Gilhorn's F3 car being 018-F3, which is a good fit.
We can get some clues about the group of four later cars from the first appearance dates of the cars produced around them, as 026-F3 first raced on 1 May, and 033-F3 on 15 July. Also, 032-F3 was entered for races in mid-June for Keiichi Tahara, even though he didn't arrive, after which 033-F3 arrived for Alan Jones in mid-July. One of these unknown cars would be Claude Bourgoignie's Formula 2 car in late May, and another two would be the Tom Wheatcroft 372 raced by Roger Williamson and the new works 372 raced by Andy Sutcliffe from Monaco onwards.
GRD were quick to let Autosport and Motoring News know when cars had been sold, and early tales of 372 sales included two for a new Swiss consortium called Swiss Racing Organisation. Autosport on 11 November 1971 announced SRO's order for two F2 cars for Jo Vonlanthen and Rudi Gygax, and two F3s for Roland Salomon and Bueb. However, just five weeks later this was re-announced as the Swiss International Racing Team, again with two F2s and two F3s but drivers now given as Salomon, Vonlanthen, Bueb, Herbert Muller and Jorg Dubler. Salomon's F2 car was chassis 014, and next to it in the production schedule was Vonlanthen's 372/013-F3, which was also driven in Switzerland by Kurt Müller. Rolf Zumstein had an F3 GRD in Switzerland in 1972 so the unresolved number of 015-F3 seems the best bet for his car. Then, after GRD's prototype F2 car at 016 comes another Swiss F3 car, 017, driven by Hans-Peter Hoffmann. Hoffman was announced yet again on 10 February, this time with Zumstein, suggesting the SRO/SIRT orders were reassigned to different Swiss drivers.
On 23 December, GRS-run 372s were announced for Mo Harness (using the old prototype 010), Pierre Rousselot (who drove 021-F3) and Neil Ginn (022-F3). Autosport's 27 January edition included news that Bengt Gilhorn would be racing a 372 (believed to be 018-F3) and that David McConnell, owner of 010, had ordered a second car for Formula B (019-FB). Mentioned later in the 3 February and 10 February editions were Jorge Pinhol (024-F3) and Bernard Plaisance (who did not appear). Reystan Racing was due to run Brazilian pair Ronnie Rossi and Jose Ferreira, and Japanese driver Kazu Kawajima in F3, as well as an F2 car for Ricardo Achcar (17 Feb). Neither Rossi nor Ferreira appeared in 1972, and nor did the F2 project, but Reystan did run Masami Kuwashima (025-F3). In the 20 April edition, it was announced that the two Italian cars (023-F3 and 026-F3) had been delivered to Gallo and Spreafico, and that the sale to Roger Williamson (028-F3 or 029-F3?) had been followed by a sale to Keichi Tahara (032-F3?), whose car was expected to be run by GRS from the 14 May Silverstone round onwards. In late July, Reystan announced that it had split from GRD, with Stanton also resigning his GRD directorship.
Roger Williamson in the Wheatcroft Racing GRD 372 at Monaco in May 1972. Copyright David Pearson (motoprint.co.za) 2023. Used with permission.
After struggling with his March 723 in British F3 early in 1973, Roger Williamson swapped to a GRD 372 in mid-April. The car was provided by his sponsor Tom Wheatcroft, and the car he first raced was described as the development model when Williamson tested it briefly at Snetterton. Autosport said he drove the development car on his GRD debut at Silverstone's International Trophy, but Motoring News noticed that GRD had managed to produce his new car ahead of schedule. With mechanics Eric Hassel and Nick Jordan, and using Holbay engines, Williamson won on his debut in the car. He also raced the new car at Monaco, but flew back to race the "original GRD prototype previously raced by Sutcliffe" at Silverstone the next day. At Oulton Park in August he had a huge accident in practice, so the team built up the ex-Sutcliffe prototype for him to race. Presumably he raced the prototype at the next two races, over that same Bank Holiday weekend, before returning to his regular car for the races in September and October. He won ten races in total to take the BRSCC/Shell F3 title. The car was then sold to Norman Moffett (Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland) who raced it in British F3 through 1973. It was advertised by Moffets Car Sales (Belfast, Northern Ireland) in December 1973. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Roger Williamson and S.N. (Norman) Moffett. First race: Silverstone (R4), 22 Apr 1972. Total of 29 recorded races.
Bengt Gilhorn, the 1971 Swedish Formula Ford champion, acquired a GRD 372 for Swedish F3 in 1972, to be powered b Holbay engines. It was announced in January and was expected to be on display at the Malmo Sports Car Show. He raced the car in six rounds of the Swedish series, entered by Gepard Racing Reklam, starting with the opening round at Knutstorp at the end of April He also raced it in the Anderstorp round of the British series in June 1972. He crashed in practice for the Knutstorp race in mid-September and did not start the race. He was then entered at Mallory Park in October 1972 but did not arrive, and at Brands Hatch later that month where he did not qualify from the heats. At this latter race he was entered by GRS International. Gilhorn moved back to Formula Ford in 1973. Nothing more is known of the GRD, but Adam Ferrington believes the car returned to the UK and was the car raced and sprinted by Richard Wallinger.
Driven by: Bengt Gilhorn. First race: Knutstorp, 30 Apr 1972. Total of 7 recorded races.
Andy Sutcliffe in the works GRD 372 at Monaco in May 1972. Copyright David Pearson (motoprint.co.za) 2023. Used with permission.
Andy Sutcliffe drove so many GRD 372s in the early part of 1972, it will be very hard to be sure what he was driving without examining pictures from every race. He started the season in chassis 011-F3, but moved to a new car, chassis 024, in mid-April. After that car was reassigned to Jorge Pinhol, Sutcliffe had a third car at Thruxton on 30 April, and there is good reason to believe he had a fourth car in time for the Monaco GP. He is believed to have retained this latter car for the remainder of the season. It is likely that this is the "ex-Sutcliffe" GRD raced by Alan Jones at the Boxing Day Brands Hatch meeting, where it was fitted with a Vegantune. Dave Walker was on hand as team manager. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Andy Sutcliffe and Alan Jones. First race: Thruxton (R5), 30 Apr 1972. Total of 15 recorded races.
Rolf Zumstein (Berne, Switzerland) raced a GRD 372 in Swiss national events between May and September 1972. Very little is known of Zumstein and his GRD, but comparing his appearances with those of Jo Vonlanthen and Kurt Müller in 013-F3 and Hans-Peter Hoffmann in 017-F3, he cannot have been sharing 013-F3 but it is possible he was sharing Hoffman's car. However, it is also distinctly possible that he had 015-F3, which may have been the third GRD 372 sold to Switzerland. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Rolf Zumstein. First race: Monza, 21 May 1972. Total of 4 recorded races.
GRD 372s in 1973
Of the cars whose chassis numbers are known, only one car vanished at the end of 1972: the "development car" chassis 011. However, two more vanished in the early months of the 1973 season, both from the British racing scene: the ex-Alan Jones 033-F3 after March; and the ex-Pierre-François Rousselot 021-F3 when he upgraded to a 373 in June. We also have to take into account the three or four mystery 372s: Bengt Gilhorn's, Rolf Zumstein's (probably), Roger Williamson's and Andy Sutcliffe's. Of these three or four, only Roger Williamson's can be tracked into 1973.
That means that a total of three or four GRD 372s cannot be traced after 1972: the development 011-F3, Bengt Gilhorn's, Andy Sutcliffe's and Rolf Zumstein's if it was a separate car.
Corresponding to those are two unidentified GRD 372s in 1973. The 372 of German Sigi Hofmann was at the Nürburgring F3 race on 1 April, and German Norbert Wieland also appears to have had a GRD 372 through the 1973 season. These two cars are likely to have come from the group of three or four cars described above, as the two known Swiss cars (Vonlanthen's 013-F3 and Hoffman's 017-F3) remained in Switzerland through 1973. As Jörg Obermoser developed a close relationship with GRD during 1973, it is possible he acquired 011 and Sutcliffe's car from the factory for his customers. Gernot Lamby's F3 GRD was also reported to be a 372 on occasion, but it is far more likely that it was a new 373 as its chassis number was shown on an entry form in 1974.
A GRD 372 that had "only raced twice" was advertised from a London number in Autosport's 28 June 1973 edition. It's not immediately obvious what car this could have been. The best fit would be Tim Brise's 034-F3 if it was regarded as a new car after it was rebuilt following his accident at Brands Hatch.
Sigi Hofmann (Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany) raced a GRD 372 in European F3 in 1973, entered by Jörg Obermoser-Eurorace GRD. Like Gernot Lamby's car, it was often referred to as a GRD 373, but was referred to at least once as a 372, indicating it was a 1972 car upgraded to 1973 specification. He appeared at least six times in German F3, and also at Misano and Zandvoort. Nothing more known.
Driven by: Sigi Hofmann. First race: Nürburgring, 1 Apr 1973. Total of 12 recorded races.
Norbert Wieland (Neubulach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany) raced a GRD at least once during the 1973 German F3 season. He was entered by MSC (Motorsportclub) Calw e.V.im ADAC, one of ADAC's oldest clubs. Although his only known race was at Hockenheim on 15 July, he entered at least three other races, spanning from April to August, which suggests this was more than just a hire deal. The car is believed to have been a 372.
Driven by: Norbert Wieland. First race: Hockenheim, 15 Jul 1973. Only one recorded race.
GRD 372s from 1974 onwards
Three GRD 372s were advertised in the same issue of Autosport on 21 February 1974: Roger Craven's 024-F3; Tony Brise's 035-F3; and one from Newick (East Sussex) that was damaged but repairable with a Vegantune engine and had raced only five times from new. A car was being advertised from Newark in Autosport 7 November 1974, now immaculate and completely rebuilt, still with its Vegantune engine, so either Newick or Newark was a typo.
Richard Wallinger (Hinkley, Leicestershire) raced a GRD 372 in libre racing in 1974, using 1600cc BDA engines built by John Robinson Racing Services of Northampton. It was described by Autosport as being of unknown Swedish driver ownership. He retained the car for libre in 1975. Sold in early 1976 to Adrian Russell, who used it in the Shellsport G8 series and in libre races. To Terry Fisher for Group 8 and libre in 1977. Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Richard Wallinger, Adrian Russell and Terry Fisher. First race: Curborough, 24 Mar 1974. Total of 21 recorded races.
In addition to the above, unknown GRD 372s were driven by Dick Ferguson, Jim Adams, Dave Saunders, Mario Benusiglio and Maurizio Orsi.
Acknowledgements
Much of what we know about the GRD 372s stems from Adam Ferrington keeping careful notes on these cars in period, and his chassis number observations have been very valuable. Duncan Rabagliati's chassis number observations have also proved very useful. Much of the early work to marshall the facts was by Chris Townsend, and further contributions have been made by the late David McKinney, Philippe Demeyer, Alan Brown and Steve Wilkinson. Thanks also to Wolfgang Neumayer in Germany and Christoph Ditzler in Switzerland whose correspondence with Chris solved the puzzle of Vonlanthen's 013-F3. And also thanks to Keith Lewcock and David Pearson for contributing their photographs.
If you can add to our understanding of these cars, or have photographs that we can use, please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com.
These histories last updated on .