Race Report: Hockenheim, 1 December 1974

hockenheim_1_12_74

Race Report: Hockenheim, 1 December 1974

hockenheim_1_12_74

The “Saisonfinale Hockenheim” was a non-championship German F3 race held over 20 laps of the 2.63 km club circuit. The rest of the field was made up of Formula Vee 1600 cars.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Hockenheim, 1 December 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Hockenheim, 10 November 1974

hockenheim_10_11_74

Race Report: Hockenheim, 10 November 1974

hockenheim_10_11_74

The “Rheintal Rundstreckenrennen” was a non-championship German F3 race held over 8 laps of the 6.788 km circuit.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Hockenheim, 10 November 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Thruxton, 27 October 1974

thruxton_27_10_74

Race Report: Thruxton, 27 October 1974

thruxton_27_10_74

This was the final round of the Forward Trust Championship and at the end of practice it was Sweden’s Conny Andersson who took pole position in his March 743 Toyota by 0.2 seconds from the similar car of Brian Henton. Gunnar Nilsson, despite heavy understeer and the wrong gear ratios, completed the front row to give all three slots to the March/Toyota combination. Mike Tyrrell should have been on the second row but his engine broke a cam after a handful of laps, also having problems was Danny Sullivan who was trying some new Goodyears which were breaking up after two laps. Dick Parsons found his practice ruined by a troublesome clutch whilst José Espirito Santo wasn’t feeling too well and so decided to scratch from the race.

Gunnar Nilsson made a great start and had already opened out a gap by the complex on lap 1 but further round the back of the circuit the Swede showed his inexperience by trying to go too quickly on tyres that hadn’t come up to working temperature. The resultant spin saw a very chagrined Swede drop to the back of the field. This left Henton leading from Andersson with a gap back to Sullivan, Marcos Moraes, Jose Chateaubriand, Tony Rouff, Nick von Preussen and the rest. By lap two gaps were beginning to appear as Henton pulled away from Andersson who had increased his lead over Sullivan who had begun to drop Chateaubriand. Meanwhile Moraes car began to misfire and he seemed to be holding up von Preussen.
Lap 4 saw the first three seemingly secure whilst Chateaubriand and Rouff were fighting over fourth with von Preussen and Parsons disputing sixth after Moraes had retired with overheating. Rouff got ahead of Chateaubriand who then came under pressure from von Preussen and as the Brazilian entered the chicane on the last lap he lost the works March in a big way hitting the Armco hard and badly damaging the car.
This left Henton to take a comfortable win by just over two seconds from Andersson who was a long way ahead of Sullivan and Rouff. Gunnar Nilsson recovered to take a disappointed seventh after his first lap mistake, he said afterwards “In fifth gear with cold tyres there was no way I could get round!”.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Thruxton, 27 October 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 13 October 1974

brands-hatch_13_10_74

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 13 October 1974

brands-hatch_13_10_74

There was another new face this week in the Lombard North Central round, Sweden’s Gunnar Nilsson in his March 743 and indeed it was Nilsson who sat on pole although many felt his time was a little optimistic. Danny Sullivan only managed three laps before his engine threw a belt damaging the head, a new head was fitted for the race but Sullivan was well down the grid. Also in difficulties was Mike Tyrrell with a broken clutch line and then on the warm up lap his March stripped a gear.

Nilsson took the lead from pole position chased by Ribeiro, Chateaubriand, Henton who had clutch slip, Santo and Andersson whilst Robert Joubert was left on the grid and needed a push start on his Brabham BT41 before he could start. At the end of the first lap Nilsson and Ribeiro had opened out a small gap on Henton and Chateaubriand but at the end of the next lap there was one long train consisting of Nilsson, Ribeiro, Henton, Chateaubriand, Santo, Andersson, and Danny Sullivan who was making up ground well. Already out was Tony Rouff with an off at Druids and Nick von Preussen was in the pits with a broken wing that was dragging along the track.
Nilsson’s engine began to misfire on lap 3 and he lost places to Ribeiro and Henton and the Swede now found Chateaubriand looking for a way past his sickly March. Henton closed right in on Ribeiro and by lap 10 he was trying for the lead,. Nilsson had lost another place to Chateaubriand but he was trying to retake the Brazilian. Santo was still ahead of Andersson who was under heavy pressure from Sullivan, Santo’s challenge was soon blunted however when his engine began to overheat and he fell away whilst the unfortunate Nilsson had to pit as his misfire worsened.
Henton decided to go for broke on the last lap at Clearways in an attempt to wrest the lead from Ribeiro but Superhen got all crossed up loosing several places before he recovered. So at the finish a delighted Ribeiro took the win from Chateaubriand who just managed to hold off Andersson and Sullivan, the three cars separated by 0.6 seconds with a chastened Henton another 0.6 down in fifth. Mention should be made of Joubert who finished ninth after a good recovery race following his push start.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 13 October 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Thruxton, 6 October 1974

thruxton_6_10_74

Race Report: Thruxton, 6 October 1974

thruxton_6_10_74

Another 12 car entry for this Forward Trust round, Brian Henton was missing as the uncompetitive Brazilian Jan Balder took over his car. In a last minute deal Danny Sullivan took over the works Modus that hadn’t run since Tony Brise drove it at Monaco and the Nurburgring.

Mike Tyrrell made a great start hotly pursued by Tony Rouff but at Campbell Rouff spun off taking both Dick Parsons in the Smiths Crisps Ensign and pole sitter Nick von Pruessen with him. All three cars were out, Parsons with a damaged rear corner and Rouff with a damaged nose and flat tyres. Tyrrell was now ahead of Danny Sullivan who was really trying hard and on lap 4 the Modus took the lead and despite pick-up problems in the closing stages due to a water leak in the engine causing overheating the American hung on to win. Tyrrell came under heavy pressure in the closing stages from Conny Andersson but the Swede was 0.4 seconds adrift at the flag. Marcos Moraes held onto fourth after being displaced by Andersson, José Espirito Santo took fifth ahead of a badly misfiring Jose Chateaubriand.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Thruxton, 6 October 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Oulton Park, 28 September 1974

oulton-park_28_9_74

Race Report: Oulton Park, 28 September 1974

oulton-park_28_9_74

It was Brian Henton, back in his familiar 743, who took pole position for this Lombard North Central round, his March benefiting from a lightened Pinto engine fitted with a revised camshaft. Henton shared the front row with his main rival this year, Tony Rouff and Brazilian coming man Alex Ribeiro. A welcome sight on row two was Sweden’s Conny Andersson who had taken out a British licence to compete in the last remaining races of the year. Jose Chateaubriand was trying a Novamotor Toyota in his works March 743 for this weekend instead of his usual Holbay Pinto. For this race the F3 had to contend with the FF2000 cars who were added to augment the grid.

It was raining as the cars lined up on the grid and everyone opted for wet tyres. Rouff made the best start to lead Henton who found his rev counter not functioning and was trying to change gear by ear. Just as Henton was about to give up as he found the noise of Rouff’s engine drowning out his Pinto the American locked his brakes at Lodge and spun. With nobody in front of him Henton quickly opened out a gap on the new second place man, Conny Andersson. Next up it was Alex Ribeiro from Nick von Preussen, Jose Chateaubriand and Mike Tyrrell.
This was Andersson’s first wet race of the year and being a little rusty on lap 4 he was passed by Ribeiro, von Preussen and Chateaubriand, the Swede now began a battle with Tyrrell and the recovering Rouff. Lap 5 saw Chateaubriand pass von Preussen and on the following lap von Preussen spun at Esso resuming in seventh.
Chateaubriand demoted Ribeiro on lap 7 and eased out a small gap although he seemed unable to do anything about Henton in the lead. Tyrrell finally got past Andersson but promptly went off and hit the sleepers at Old Hall, Andersson and Rouff then began to close in on Ribeiro but there wasn’t enough time to do anything about the GRD in third. So at the finish it was Henton who took the win and also secured the Lombard North Central Championship, team mate Chateaubriand in second closed a little on Henton at the finish but Superhen had it all in hand.
Of the other runners Ivor Goodwin spun his Modus off at Lodge on lap 1, unfortunately Peter Dugdale did the same thing on the last lap in his March hitting the abandoned Modus, neither driver was injured.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Oulton Park, 28 September 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Thruxton, 22 September 1974

thruxton_22_9_74

Race Report: Thruxton, 22 September 1974

thruxton_22_9_74

It was 12 cars for the Lombard North Central round and Danny Sullivan was quickest in practice to secure pole position in his ex-Bob Evans March.

It began to rain just before the start but luckily it stopped again before the track had become too wet. Danny Sullivan’s pole came to naught when his car began misfiring badly from the start causing his early retirement. Thus it was Tony Rouff in his GRD who took the lead from the start chased by the Marches of Nick von Preussen and Mike Tyrrell. Before too long Tyrrell moved up to second and by lap 7 he was challenging Rouff for the lead but fell back on the last lap and Rouff took the win by a second.
Of the others Alex Ribeiro led Dick Parsons home for fourth and fifth, Chateaubriand had been fifth but had to retire from the race. Brian Henton’s usual March was driven by Brazilian Jan Bouder but it was hampered by an awful misfire and ran slowly at the back. Jorge Koechlin was having an outing in the Bob Bondurant backed Elden PRH15 and he finished seventh despite a spin.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Thruxton, 22 September 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Mantorp Park, 15 September 1974

mantorp park_15_9_74

Race Report: Mantorp Park, 15 September 1974

mantorp park_15_9_74

A good field arrived to take part in this Swedish F3 race and it was Gunnar Nilsson who set a sub-lap record time to take pole position in his March-Toyota 743.

The first four on the grid immediately pulled away from the rest of the field and began a classic F3 slipstreaming battle. It was Nordström who took the lead initially and into the last lap and the last corner Nilsson outbraked Andersson to take second but Nordström held onto take the win by a thousandth of a second. Nilsson broke the lap record no less than four times on his way to the runner up spot.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Mantorp Park, 15 September 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Ulm-Megan, 15 September 1974

ulm-megan_15_9_74

Race Report: Ulm-Megan, 15 September 1974

ulm-megan_15_9_74
A non-championship German F3 race, the “Rundstreckenrennen Ulm-Mengen” was held over 20 laps of the 2.88 km circuit.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Ulm-Megan, 15 September 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 15 September 1974

brands-hatch_15_9_74

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 15 September 1974

brands-hatch_15_9_74

It was 12 cars in the latest round of the Forward Trust Championship, it was supposed to be 13 but Mike Tyrrell broke a camshaft in his March in qualifying and was out of the race. Brian Henton arrived to find his car had been handed over to a Brazilian rent-a-driver for the next three races but at the last minute an ex-Buzz Buzaglo 723 updated to 733 spec and fitted with a 1.9 Neil Brown engine was prepared for Superhen.

It was pouring with rain as the cars came out and the track was very slippery as would be seen by the number of spins in the race. Tony Rouff made a great start from the second row and led for the first two and a half laps until spinning out of contention at Bottom Bend. After that it was Henton for the rest of the race and he came home an easy winner by 26 seconds from team mate Jose Chateaubriand who was driving Henton’s usual car. Chateaubriand drove very well in the tricky conditions moving up from seventh on the first lap. Alex Ribeiro started third and moved up to second when Rouff fell back but a spin and a damaged nose cone saw him out of the race. José Espirito Santo moved up to take Ribeiro’s place but he spun down to fourth. Of the rest Danny Sullivan was plagued with a misfire whilst finishing fifth, Nicholas von Preussen spun to the rear of the field on lap 1 and Patrick Neve spun with a flat tyre in his Brabham BT41.

f3 HISTORY

RACES

Race Report: Brands Hatch, 15 September 1974

Race Heat 1

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 20:09.40

2 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 20:09.50

3 Luigi Fontanesi

Tecno-Ford 20:13.10

4 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 20:23.40

Race Heat 2

1 Giovanni Lo Voi

Brabham-Ford BT28 15:05.00

2 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 15:05.00

3 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 15:21.00

4 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 15:34.10

5 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28

Race Final

1 Vittorio Brambilla

Birel Alfa Romeo 30:44.30 144.318

2 Marcello Gallo

Brabham BT28 30:44.34

3 Fabrizio Noe

Lotus-Ford 69 30:45.10

4 Adelmo Fossati

Brabham BT28 30:55.40

5 Patrice Compain

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00

6 Carlo Franchi (Gimax)

De Sanctis-Alfa Romeo 31:11.50

7 Manfred Möhr

Lotus-Ford 31:59.60

8 Giovanni Lo Voi

Martini-Ford MW7 31:08.00