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1978 British Formula One Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1978 British Formula One Championship (formally the 1978 Aurora AFX F1 Championship) was the first season of the British Formula One Championship. It commenced on 24 March 1978 and ended on 24 September after twelve races.[1]

The Aurora AFX F1 Championship replaced the Shellsport Group 8 series that had been run in 1976 and 1977 to Formula Libre rules. As part of the changes, Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic cars were no longer eligible to race in the Aurora AFX championship. Formula 1 cars were now the focus of the series, with Formula 2 cars still being permitted as a 'B-class'.[2]

Teams and drivers

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Entry List[3]
Team No. Driver Chassis Engine Rounds
Formula 1
United Kingdom Melchester Racing 1 United Kingdom Tony Trimmer McLaren M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 1–5, 7, 9–10, 12
United Kingdom Divina Galica 11
United Kingdom Team March 3 Australia Bruce Allison March 75A/761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 4-8
4 United Kingdom Guy Edwards 1-2
3 Australia Bruce Allison March 781 9-12
4 United Kingdom Guy Edwards 3-12
21 United Kingdom Geoff Lees 7
Spain Centro Asegurador F1 5 Spain Emilio de Villota McLaren M25 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 1–6, 10-12
McLaren M23 8-9
United Kingdom Valentino Musetti 7 United Kingdom Valentino Musetti March 752/761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 1-9
United Kingdom Mario Deliotti Racing 7 United Kingdom Valentino Musetti Ensign N177 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 10-12
9 United Kingdom Geoff Lees Ensign N175 1-4
Australia Bruce Allison 2
Italy Giancarlo Martini 5-6
United Kingdom Ray Mallock 7
South Africa Desiré Wilson 8-12
Republic of Ireland Alo Lawler 10 Republic of Ireland Alo Lawler Surtees TS19 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 1-3
United Kingdom Stanley BRM 11 Belgium Teddy Pilette BRM P207 BRM P202 3.0 V12 1–4, 7-12
United Kingdom Team Olympus 13 United Kingdom Divina Galica Surtees TS19 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 5
United Kingdom J. C. Cooper 14 United Kingdom Bob Evans Surtees TS19 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 5-6
Hesketh 308E 7-12
17 United Kingdom John Cooper Hesketh 308C 1-8
Hesketh 308E 9, 11-12
United Kingdom Geoff Lees 10
United Kingdom Dennis Leech 16 United Kingdom Dennis Leech March 761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 11
West Germany Jörg Zaborowski 19 West Germany Jörg Zaborowski March 761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 3
United Kingdom BS Fabrications 30 United States Brett Lunger McLaren M26 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 5
United Kingdom Theodore Racing 32 Republic of Ireland David Kennedy Wolf WR3 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 12
Austria Gerd Biechteler 65 Austria Gerd Biechteler March 761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 4, 6
Formula 2
United Kingdom Graham Eden Racing 6 United Kingdom Mike Wilds Ralt RT1 Ford BDG 2.0 L4 All
United Kingdom Mario Deliotti Racing 9 United Kingdom Geoff Lees Chevron B42 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 11
Republic of Ireland L & B Excavations 10 Republic of Ireland Alo Lawler Ralt RT1 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 6, 8, 11
United Kingdom Stephen South 12 United Kingdom Stephen South March 782 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 10-11
United Kingdom Kim Mather 15 United Kingdom Kim Mather Chevron B35D Ford BDG 2.0 L4 1–9, 12
United States Fred Opert Racing 16 Netherlands Boy Hayje Chevron B42 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 5
United Kingdom Chevron Cars 16 Italy Elio de Angelis Chevron B42 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 10
United Kingdom MacLaren's of Broxburn 18 United Kingdom Iain McLaren Chevron B35 Ford BDX 2.0 L4 1, 4
Chevron B40 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 9
United Kingdom Adrian Russell 20 United Kingdom Adrian Russell March 762 Ford BDX 2.0 L4 1-11
United Kingdom Boxer Cars 22 United Kingdom Norman Dickson Boxer PR276 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 3, 5
Australia Geoff Brabham 6
Spain Emilio de Villota 7
United Kingdom Andy Barton 23 United Kingdom Andy Barton Barton JTB3 Ford BDX 2.0 L4 4
March 77B/772P Ford BDG 2.0 L4 9
United Kingdom Warren Booth 29 United Kingdom Warren Booth Scott F2 Ford BDX 2.0 L4 1, 6, 8
United Kingdom Nigel Clarkson 30 United Kingdom Nigel Clarkson March 742 Ford BDX 2.0 L4 1–2, 12
United Kingdom Alan Baillie 38 United Kingdom Alan Baillie March 752 Ford BDX Swindon 2.0 L4 1, 4, 6–7, 11-12
United Kingdom Ray Mallock 9
United Kingdom Kevin Bowditch 41 United Kingdom Kevin Bowditch Lola T460 Ford 2.0 L4 6-7
Italy Carlo Giorgio 42 Italy Carlo Giorgio March 742 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 2, 5
Austria Dr. Joseph Ehrlich 43 New Zealand Brett Riley March 762 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 9-10
United Kingdom Dicksons of Perth 47 United Kingdom Norman Dickson March 772P Hart 420R 2.0 L4 10-11
West Germany Eugen Grupp 64 West Germany Eugen Grupp Toj F202 BMW M12 2.0 L4 9
Austria Osterreich ASC 65 Austria Gerd Biechteler March 782 BMW M12 2.0 L4 9
United States Briggs Racing Enterprises 71 United States John David Briggs Chevron B42 Hart 420R 2.0 L4 10-11
77 United States Don Breidenbach 10-11
Austria Walter Raus 78 Austria Walter Raus March 762 BMW M12 2.0 L4 2
United Kingdom Smith and Jones 90 United Kingdom Richard Jones March 742 Ford BDG 2.0 L4 10-12
United Kingdom Bill Wood ? United Kingdom Bill Wood March 742 Ford 2.0 L4 5

Results and standings

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Races

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Rnd Track Date Laps Pole Position Fastest Lap Race Winner Constructor
1 Oulton Park 24 March 65 United Kingdom Tony Trimmer United Kingdom Tony Trimmer United Kingdom Tony Trimmer McLaren
2 Brands Hatch 27 March 40 United Kingdom Guy Edwards United Kingdom Geoff Lees United Kingdom Tony Trimmer McLaren
3 Snetterton 16 April 55 United Kingdom Tony Trimmer United Kingdom Tony Trimmer United Kingdom Tony Trimmer McLaren
4 Mallory Park 1 May 75 United Kingdom Tony Trimmer Spain Emilio de Villota United Kingdom Geoff Lees Ensign
5 Zandvoort 15 May 38 United States Brett Lunger United States Brett Lunger United Kingdom Bob Evans Surtees
6 Donington Park 21 May 55 Italy Giancarlo Martini Italy Giancarlo Martini Italy Giancarlo Martini Ensign
7 Thruxton 29 May 50 United Kingdom Guy Edwards United Kingdom Geoff Lees United Kingdom Tony Trimmer McLaren
8 Oulton Park 24 June 65 Spain Emilio de Villota Belgium Teddy Pilette United Kingdom Guy Edwards March
9 Mallory Park 30 July 75 United Kingdom Tony Trimmer Spain Emilio de Villota Australia Bruce Allison March
10 Brands Hatch 28 August 40 United Kingdom Stephen South Spain Emilio de Villota United Kingdom Tony Trimmer McLaren
11 Thruxton 10 September 45 Spain Emilio de Villota United Kingdom Geoff Lees United Kingdom Guy Edwards March
12 Snetterton 24 September 50 Spain Emilio de Villota Republic of Ireland David Kennedy Republic of Ireland David Kennedy Wolf

Drivers' standings

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Points are awarded to the top ten classified finishers using the following structure:

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th   FL 
Points 20 15 12 10 8 6 4 3 2 1 2
Pos. Driver OUL
United Kingdom
BRH
United Kingdom
SNE
United Kingdom
MAL
United Kingdom
ZAN
Netherlands
DON
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
OUL
United Kingdom
MAL
United Kingdom
BRH
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
SNE
United Kingdom
Pts
1 United Kingdom Tony Trimmer 1 1 1 2 DNS 1 2 1 2 149
2 United Kingdom Bob Evans 1 3 2 5 7 2 2 7 93
3 Spain Emilio de Villota 2 3 2 4 Ret 5 7 Ret 4 Ret 8 8 86
4 United Kingdom Guy Edwards Ret 4 Ret 10 Ret 2 Ret 1 3 DNS 1 Ret 78
5 United Kingdom Geoff Lees Ret 2 3 1 Ret 5 5 69
6 Australia Bruce Allison DNS 6 Ret Ret 4 2 1 Ret 12 3 63
7 United Kingdom Valentino Musetti NC NC Ret 3 7 4 5 3 Ret 6 4 DNS 62
8 United Kingdom John Cooper 3 8 Ret 8 8 7 8 7 9 10 4 44
9 United Kingdom Mike Wilds Ret 6 Ret 7 6 DNS 6 6 8 7 13 5 43
10 South Africa Desiré Wilson Ret 6 4 3 6 34
11 Italy Giancarlo Martini 4 1 32
12 Republic of Ireland David Kennedy 1 22
13 Belgium Teddy Pilette Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 20
14 United Kingdom Divina Galica 2 7 19
15 United Kingdom Kim Mather 4 Ret NC 5 NC Ret DNS NC Ret Ret 18
16 Netherlands Boy Hayje 3 12
=[1] United Kingdom Ray Mallock 3 12 12
=[1] Italy Elio de Angelis 3 12
19 United Kingdom Iain McLaren 5 9 10 11
=[1] United Kingdom Adrian Russell DNQ 10 NC 13 9 8 9 8 NC Ret Ret 11
21 United States Brett Lunger 5 10
22 New Zealand Brett Riley 5 Ret 8
23 United States Don Breidenbach 10 6 7
24 Australia Geoff Brabham 6 6
25 Austria Walter Raus 7 4
26 United States John David Briggs 8 17 3
27 United Kingdom Stephen South Ret 9 2
=[1] United Kingdom Warren Booth NC 9 Ret 2
=[1] Italy Carlo Giorgio 9 Ret 2
=[1] United Kingdom Richard Jones 9 11 Ret 2
United Kingdom Andy Barton 12 11 0
Austria Gerd Biechteler 11 DNS 13 0
United Kingdom Alan Baillie DNQ 14 NC NC 15 DNS 0
United Kingdom Norman Dickson DNS Ret DNS 14 0
United Kingdom Dennis Leech 16 0
Republic of Ireland Alo Lawler Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret Ret 0
United Kingdom Bill Wood Ret 0
United Kingdom Kevin Bowditch DNQ DNS 0
United Kingdom Nigel Clarkson DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
West Germany Jörg Zaborowski DNQ 0
West Germany Eugen Grupp DNQ 0
Pos. Driver OUL
United Kingdom
BRH
United Kingdom
SNE
United Kingdom
MAL
United Kingdom
ZAN
Netherlands
DON
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
OUL
United Kingdom
MAL
United Kingdom
BRH
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
SNE
United Kingdom
Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "1978 AURORA AFX BRITISH F1 CHAMPIONSHIP". motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "8W - Who? - Marcus Pye". www.forix.com. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Formula 1 - 3-litre Formula 1 (1966 - 1985)". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved July 17, 2018.