1996 British Formula Three Championship

Last updated
1996 champion, Ralph Firman Ralph Firman 2008 Super GT.jpg
1996 champion, Ralph Firman

The 1996 British Formula Three season was the 46th British Formula Three Championship. The season started on 31 March at Silverstone and ended there on 13 October following sixteen races. After losing out in the final reckoning to Oliver Gavin in 1995, Ralph Firman was able to clinch the crown on his second attempt from Kurt Mollekens and teammate Jonny Kane. New Zealander Simon Wills took the Class B title.

Contents

Interestingly, this season did not feature any Brazilian drivers, an unusual fact for British Formula 3 since the arrival of Emerson Fittipaldi in 1969.

The scoring system was 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 points awarded to the first ten finishers, with 1 (one) extra point added to the driver who set the fastest lap of the race. All results counted towards the driver's final tally.


Drivers and Teams

TeamNoDriverChassisEngineRounds
Class A
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Dallara F396 Mugen-Honda All
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Dallara F396Mugen-HondaAll
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fortec Motorsport 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Smith Dallara F396 HKS-Mitsubishi All
4 Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Dallara F396HKS-MitsubishiAll
Flag of France.svg Promatecme 5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Matthews Dallara F396 Renault All
6 Flag of France.svg Nicolas Minassian Dallara F396RenaultAll
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Docking Racing 7 Flag of the United States.svg Brian CunninghamDallara F396Mugen-HondaAll
8 Flag of Uruguay.svg Gonzalo Rodríguez Dallara F396Mugen-Honda1-4
Flag of India.svg Akbar Ebrahim 8
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steven Arnold9
11 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kurt Mollekens Dallara F396Mugen-HondaAll
12 Flag of Finland.svg Risto VirtanenDallara F396Mugen-Honda1-4
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TWR Junior Team 9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Davies Dallara F396 TWR GM All
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark ShawDallara F396TWR GMAll
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Intersport14 Flag of Spain.svg Ángel Burgueño Dallara F396 Opel All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg SpeedSport F315 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren Manning Dallara F396Mugen-HondaAll
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TOM'S GB 16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Christian Horner TOM'S 036TOM'S-Toyota 1-6
Flag of Japan.svg Naoki KuroseDallara F39616
17 Flag of Argentina.svg Brian Smith TOM'S 036TOM'S-Toyota All
18 Flag of Japan.svg Takashi YokoyamaDallara F396TOM'S-Toyota1-3
TOM'S 0364-16
19 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuto YanagawaDallara F396TOM'S-Toyota All
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg DC Cook Motorsport 20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paula Cook Dallara F396Mugen-Honda1-11
Flag of France.svg Graff Racing 23 Flag of France.svg Boris Derichebourg Dallara F396Opel11
Flag of France.svg Patrice Gay 14-15
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Z-Speed27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Byford Dallara F396Opel1–9, 11-15
Class B
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Z-Speed31 Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Wills Dallara F394VauxhallAll
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Hopkins Motorsport33 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Philip HopkinsDallara F393 Fiat 1–6, 8–9, 11–13, 16
Flag of the United States.svg James Carney14-15
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Render Racing34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'ConnellDallara F394Vauxhall1–3, 7–9, 12-13
Flag of Japan.svg Masami Nakamura14-16
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg SpeedSport F335 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood Dallara F394VauxhallAll
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Magic Racing36 Flag of Japan.svg Shingo Tachi Dallara F394TOM'S-ToyotaAll
37 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins Dallara F394Mugen-Honda7-16
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Bailey Racing47 Flag of the United States.svg Tavo Hellmund Dallara F394TOM'S-Toyota1-7
48 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris ClarkDallara F394TOM'S-Toyota1-4

Race calendar and results

RoundCircuitDatePole PositionFastest LapWinning DriverWinning TeamClass B Winner
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 31 March Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fortec Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'Connell
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Davies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Davies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TWR Junior Team Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'Connell
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 14 April Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Davies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TWR Junior Team Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Wills
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Donington Park 5 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fortec Motorsport Flag of Japan.svg Shingo Tachi
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brands Hatch 27 May Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Wills
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Philip Hopkins
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oulton Park 8 June Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'Connell
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Donington Park 23 June Flag of Argentina.svg Brian Smith Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kurt Mollekens Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Docking Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'Connell
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 13 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren Manning Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren Manning Flag of the United Kingdom.svg SpeedSport F3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'Connell
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thruxton 28 July Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren Manning Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fortec Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins
11 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Snetterton 11 August Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins
12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pembrey 1 September Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of France.svg Nicolas Minassian Flag of France.svg Promatecme Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing Flag of Japan.svg Shingo Tachi
14 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Zandvoort 29 September Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kurt Mollekens Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kurt Mollekens Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Docking Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins
15 Flag of Argentina.svg Brian Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Stewart Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Silverstone 13 October Flag of France.svg Nicolas Minassian Flag of France.svg Nicolas Minassian Flag of France.svg Nicolas Minassian Flag of France.svg Promatecme Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Wills

^1 Round 11 was shortened due to heavy rain, and a planned second race at Snetterton was also cancelled.

Drivers Championship

PosDriver SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
THR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
DON
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
BRH
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
BRH
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
OUL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
DON
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
THR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SNE
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
PEM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
PEM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
ZAN
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
ZAN
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Pts
Class A
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ralph Firman 423Ret1112226135544188
2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kurt Mollekens 55113672145938127148
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jonny Kane Ret65Ret4Ret10Ret3Ret121212146
4 Flag of France.svg Nicolas Minassian 987523339Ret1717331139
5 Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya 21241122913713464Ret5137
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Guy Smith 136436546921212853132
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren Manning 7101725866145741276105
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Davies 311Ret1010420116752RetRetDNS98
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Matthews 64292011819107489Ret81259
10 Flag of Argentina.svg Brian Smith RetDNS25Ret857128DNS8637RetDSQ44
11 Flag of the United States.svg Brian CunninghamRet139Ret7RetWD558119146Ret1034
12 Flag of Spain.svg Ángel Burgueño RetDNS10Ret134117Ret3Ret1516Ret11831
13 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Shaw147813RetRet18913Ret19†Ret1810RetDSQ12
14 Flag of Uruguay.svg Gonzalo Rodríguez 8Ret1269
15 Flag of France.svg Patrice Gay 968
16 Flag of Japan.svg Takashi Yokoyama13920811Ret1917Ret14†10182111Ret98
17 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin Byford 1111RetRet991411Ret12RetDNS15†127
18 Flag of Finland.svg Risto Virtanen21211474
19 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuto Yanagawa161819Ret17RetRet14161313Ret13Ret9153
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Christian Horner Ret2416Ret16130
21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paula Cook 171621Ret1814DNSDNS20DNSDNS0
22 Flag of France.svg Boris Derichebourg 140
23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steven Arnold150
24 Flag of India.svg Akbar Ebrahim 180
Flag of Japan.svg Naoki KuroseRet
Class B
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Wills 19171314141515152111161617Ret1311201
2 Flag of Japan.svg Shingo Tachi 151923101517132114RetDNS111014Ret13192
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Collins Ret1017101510111310Ret147
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martin O'Connell101418128121719131
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Bentwood 2022DNS11Ret161616181218†1415RetRet14119
6 Flag of the United States.svg Tavo Hellmund 1820241219Ret1756
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Philip Hopkins22†2322RetRet12Ret1920†19†20DSQ52
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Clark121515Ret45
9 Flag of Japan.svg Masami Nakamura17Ret1620
10 Flag of the United States.svg James Carney16Ret12
PosDriver SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
THR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
DON
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
BRH
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
BRH
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
OUL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
DON
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
THR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SNE
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
PEM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
PEM
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
ZAN
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
ZAN
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
SIL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Pts

References

AUTOCOURSE 1996-97
British Motorsport Year 1996-97