1983 British Formula Three Championship

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1983 champion, Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna 9 (cropped).jpg
1983 champion, Ayrton Senna

The 1983 British Formula Three Championship was the 33rd season of the British Formula Three Championship, starting at Silverstone on 6 March and concluding at Thruxton on 23 October after 20 races.

Contents

The season saw a head-to-head title battle between future Formula One stars Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle - both driving Toyota-powered Ralt chassis, prepared by West Surrey Racing and Eddie Jordan Racing respectively. Senna built up a commanding advantage by winning the first nine races in succession, but a series of retirements for the Brazilian later in the year allowed Brundle to close the gap. The Brit took the points lead heading into the series finale, but Senna dominated the race to secure the title.

Senna won 12 of the 20 races in the season (60% of that year's races), a record until Jan Magnussen won 14 of the 18 races in the 1994 season (78% of that year's races). Both Senna and Brundle stepped up to F1 in 1984, joining Toleman and Tyrrell respectively.

Other notable drivers from the year included future Le Mans winner Davy Jones, BTCC star David Leslie and Senna's future Lotus teammate Johnny Dumfries. 1983 was also the final season before 'Class B' was established, offering a separate prize for those competing in older cars.

Race calendar and results

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning Team
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 6 March Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Leslie Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 13 March Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 20 March Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Donington Park 27 March Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna
Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones
Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 4 April Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 24 April Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 2 May Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brands Hatch 8 May Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 30 May Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 12 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle 1 Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Cadwell Park 19 June Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Snetterton 3 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 16 July Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Donington Park 24 July Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
15 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oulton Park 6 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Calvin Fish Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Price Racing
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 29 August Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing
17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oulton Park 11 September Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 18 September Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 2 October Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Flag of Ireland.svg Eddie Jordan Racing
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 23 October Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna Flag of the United Kingdom.svg West Surrey Racing

^1 Brundle was ineligible to score points as he was using European specification tyres. Allen Berg therefore secured maximum points at this round. [1]

Championship Standings

Points in brackets include dropped scoresonly the best 17 of 20 scores count towards the championship

Pos.DriverTeam SIL THR SIL DON THR SIL THR BRH SIL SIL 2 CAD SNE SIL DON OUL SIL OUL THR SIL THR Pts
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Ayrton Senna West Surrey Racing 111111111RetDNSRet12Ret1RetRet21132
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Brundle Eddie Jordan Racing 22222322211121Ret2111(3)123
3 Flag of the United States.svg Davy Jones Murray Taylor Racing3Ret43Ret233514327323Ret23277
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Calvin Fish David Price Racing 4Ret3Ret34Ret4416233415234567
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Allen Berg Neil Trundle Racing1087Ret5765310RetRet4Ret345Ret5DNS32
6 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Mario Hytten Axxess Racing Team53Ret4484Ret7Ret55697423
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Leslie Robinson Motorsport7456Ret656RetRetRet864Ret34622
8 Flag of the United States.svg Eric LangMurray Taylor Racing12RetRetRet10139118174697Ret116615610
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony TrevorDriver86Ret898891964Ret8577129
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard TrottRichard Trott RacingRet5DNSRetDNS61254Ret8
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Johnny Dumfries Associated Racing65Ret875RetRetRetRetDNS5Ret6168
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hunt Eddie Jordan Racing 995Ret72
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Lee-Davey David Luff Racing9612Ret6107722108112
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike BlanchetTarry Racing101710921DNS12Ret1081
15 Flag of Jamaica.svg Carlton TinglingTingling Racing14DNS11Ret1214DNS101023Ret13106Ret871391

^2 European Championship race where the British runners had to use regulation Avon rubber to be eligible for British championship points. [2]

References

  1. "British Formula 3 Championship (1951-2014)". motorsportwinners.com. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. "British Formula 3 1983". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.