A Formula 3 car looks exactly like a scaled-down Grand Prix racer because that’s exactly what it is. A precision-built single-seater powered by a two-litre race engine. Designed by computer and redefined in a wind tunnel. Capable of 165 mph. Demanding a clean, precise, committed driving style.
A serious race car with a serious objective. Close, hard, give-no-quarter competition. Short, sharp sprint races where young drivers with serious career ambitions pay their dues.
Why is the British Championship so highly regarded?
Win in British Formula 3 and you’re marked as a man-to-watch. Around the world, no other race series has produced as many Grand Prix winners and World Champions as British Formula 3. If a race driver matches intention with achievement in this championship, what may have started as a passion becomes a career.
Ayreton Senna, the man who redefined Grand Prix speed in the late Eighties and early Nineties, made his name in British Formula 3. Senna won twelve F3 races in 1983. He moved straight to Formula 1 and in 1988, 1990 and 1991 was crowned World Champion.
"I think that the British Formula 3 Championship was the perfect place for me to race that year to make the step forward. And to learn, to get credibility in order to make the jump to Formula 1, it was the right place to be."
Ayrton Senna
1983: British Formula 3 champion
1988, 1990 and 1991: World Formula 1 Champion
1997 saw another Formula 1 legend, Jackie Stewart, returning to Grand Prix racing with his own team. This man does not start a project without expecting, and being determined, to succeed. The drivers he chose were two British Formula 3 Champions, Rubens Barrichello (’91), and the young Dane, Jan Magnussen who, in ’94, broke Senna’s F3 record.
The cornerstones of good, crowd-pleasing racing are simple enough. All cars should feature similar technical specifications. Engines that produce around the same amount of power, now about 212 bhp. Cars which offer limited aerodynamic downforce, so that winning comes from a combination of the skill of the designer, the skill of the driver and the expertise and professionalism of the team. Rules that make the use of one make of tyre mandatory, to stop teams working independently with manufacturers to eke out a grip advantage.
"The British Formula 3 Championship is a must for any driver with his sights set on Formula 1. The best young racers in the world come to compete in what is certainly the toughest Formula 3 Championship in Europe. The television, plus daily, weekly and monthly publications cover the events extremely well and it is excellent for drivers, sponsors and spectators alike."
Jackie Stewart
1964: Most successful driver in British Formula 3 racing
1969, 1971 and 1973: World Formula 1 Champion
1997: Returned to Formula 1 with Stewart Grand Prix
These are the ingredients of Formula 3, but ultimately races are won by attention to detail. Cars are adjusted in millimetres, tenths, often hundredths of a second are vital. Top teams spend a month testing through the season. Thirty-plus days and thousands of miles pounding round the circuits to shave fractions off a lap time, just to stay competitive. Drivers are coached in the subtleties of car set-up and taught the wisdom of racecraft, so the better to prepare them for Formula 1.
Young race drivers come to this country from all over the world each spring to race in the British Formula 3 Championship. The rewards are obvious: less than six months after winning the 1990 British F3 title, Mika Hakkinen was a Grand Prix driver for Team lotus. British Formula 3 is the ultimate stepping stone in motor racing, the final confirmation that a driver has what it takes to succeed in the zero-defect world of Formula 1. As a series, British Formula 3 racing is one of the country’s leading sporting success stories with a strong international media following.
"Formula 3 is good for a driver because you are learning all the time. That’s most important. The racing is very competitive and very hard. The things you learn about how racing cars work are just unbelievable. Formula 1 is different again – but you learn the basics about racing in Formula 3."
Mika Hakkinen
1990: British Formula 3 Champion
1991 to 1998: Racing in formula 1 with
Team Lotus and McLaren International.
The TV coverage
In the UK, the Championship has an exclusive half-hour TV programme during the week after each race meeting. This is transmitted on Sky Sports, whilst there are regular items on BBC2’smuch-praised Top Gear Motorsport programme, and F3 is a vital part of ITV’s Best of British Motorsport show. Races are presented as crisply edited reports, with dramatic in-car camerawork backing up a tight narrative drive. A sponsor’s name is captured on film, with driver interviews and behind-the-scene stories being used to reflect the inherent drama of racing and highlight the overall professionalism of the series. Other terrestrial peak-time news features pick up on the success of teams and young drivers from particular regions.
"The British Formula 3 Championship makes great television and has nurtured some of the world’s finest racing drivers."
Murray Walker
The voice of motor racing
Worldwide, the coverage is extensive, with regular Eurosport showings on International motorsport. The same programme goes out on STAR TV in the Far East and ART in the Middle East. Footage is also shown on Globo SAT in Brazil and Kuwait Ch 3. Putting it another way, TV coverage of the British Formula 3 Championship is available to half the World’s population.
As a promotional package, British
Formula 3 is structured around the marketing and promotional needs of participating
sponsors, large and small. The series is organised jointly by The British
Racing Drivers’ Club and the British Automobile Racing Club, two of the most
respected bodies in European motorsport. FOTA – the Formula Three Association
– now co-ordinates the Championship, acting as the vital link between teams,
drivers, organisers and sponsors. FOTA’s brief is simple. Good racing is,
on its own, no longer enough, among the business community, slick organisation
and an understanding of the commercial opportunities within the series count
for as much as thrilling, televised competition.
Stewart
Racing
Manor Motorsport
Carlin Motorsport
Fortec Motorsport
RC Benetton Junior Team
Promatecme
Rowan Racing
Team Avanti
Alan Docking Racing
Hopkins Motorsport
ME Motorsport
Meritus Racing
Zip Kart Young Guns
Diamond Racing Team
When Paul Stewart announced to his father that he wished to follow in his footsteps and become a racing driver, his father's reaction was to set up a team so that his son could have the best support possible.
Thus, Paul Stewart Racing was formed in 1988. The team spent its first season competing in FF2000, progressing and expanding the following year into Formula Three and then into F3000.
With teams in three different formulae, Paul Stewart Racing had become the first team to create a "Staircase of Talent", a process whereby drivers and support personnel could work through the progressive levels of motorsport.
Since creating the "Staircase", the team has helped 35 young drivers on their chosen career paths. Many have achieved notable success including David Coulthard, who drives for the McLaren Formula 1 team and Juan Pablo Montoya and Dario Franchitti who were winner and runner-up respectively in the 1999 FedEx CART Championship in the United States. Most recently, Luciano Burti who finished runner-up in the 1999 British F3 Championship after a season-long battle, has been appointed test driver to Jaguar Racing.
In the same way that their former drivers have enjoyed much success through the years, so the team itself has built up a formidable record of achievements:
13 Championship titles including
six British Formula Three titles
137 race wins at circuits throughout the world.
Winners of both the Zandvoort Masters and the Macau F3 GP in their debut year
Over 315 podium finishes
In 1999, to promote greater alignment with its sister company Stewart Grand
Prix (SGP), the team took on the name of Stewart Racing. Whilst SGP is known
as Jaguar Racing in 2000 to reflect its take-over by vehicle manufacturing
giant, Ford, the Formula Three team continues to be known as Stewart Racing.
This year, Stewart Racing again concentrates its efforts on the British Formula Three Championship. In car number three is experienced Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan, who is in his second full season of Formula Three. His team-mate, Tomas Scheckter, is new to this level of racing, having won the EFDA title in 1999.
Drivers:
Narain Karthikeyan - 3
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Stewart Racing
Colour: White/Blue/Tartan
Age: 23
Date of Birth: 14/1/77
Nationality: Indian
Lives: Milton Keynes
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Third season
Titles won: 1996 Formula Asia
Racing History:
After a course at the French Winfield Racing School, took part in Formula
Ford in the UK in 1994, albeit only a handful of races. Switched to Formula
Asia in 1995 and thanks to Marlboro money was able to complete the whole season
in 1996, going on to win the championship. Returned to the UK in 1997, winning
the Formula Vauxhall race at Donington in the wet, and switched to F3 in 1998.
Only did selected races due to budgetary problems in 1998, but did a full
season for Carlin Motorsport in 1999 winning two races, both at Brands Hatch.
Tomas Scheckter - 4
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Stewart Racing
Colour: White/Blue/Tartan
Age: 19
Date of Birth: 21/9/80
Nationality: ZA
Lives: Milton Keynes
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1999 EFDA Euroseries, 1995 South African Western Province Kart.
Racing History:
Son of 1979 F1 World Champion Jody, he started racing in karts in 1992, initially
with a 60cc engine, in the Cadet championship, doing just three races. Contested
full season in 1993, winning nine races and finishing second in the championship
and as Top Rookie. Moved up to 100cc karts in 1994 finishing fourth in the
Western Province Championship, and won the championship outright in 1995.
Continued in karts in 1996 and then into cars in 1997, racing in FF1600 taking
two wins. 1998 heralded a move into Formula Vauxhall Junior in the UK, taking
a win and a pole position en route to third in the championship, and he graduated
to the 2-litre EFDA Euroseries in 1999. Won the championship with the highest
ever number of points, highest ever number of wins (8), and highest number
of pole positions (7). Also moved into the Open Movistar by Nissan formula
at the end of the season, winning one of the two races he contested.
Stewart Racing Technical Specification
Chassis One piece Dallara carbon-kevlar
composite monocoque.
Suspension Front-double wishbone with pushrod operated mono damper. Rear-double
wishbone with pushrod operated twin damper.
Damper Units Quantum dampers fully adjustable.
Brakes Front/rear - fully floating discs with four piston callipers.
Bodywork Carbon front and rear wings, glass fibre prepreg engine, cover and
side pods.
Gearbox Five speed longitudinal gearbox using Hewland internals and ratios.
Engine A 2 litre Mugen Honda engine, tuned by Neil Brown Engineering. Twin
cam alloy engine producing around 220 bhp. Top speed approximately 155 mph.
Data Acquisition Pi 3+ hardware using version 6 software with looms and ancillaries
supplied by GWR Motorsport.
Antonio Pizzonia - 1
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Manor Motorsport
Colour: Green/black
Age: 19
Date of Birth: 11/9/80
Nationality: Brazilian
Lives: Cambridge
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1999 Formula Renault Sport, 1998 Formula Renault Sport Winter
Series, 1998 Formula Vauxhall Junior, 1996 Brazilian Formula A kart, 1994
Paulista B kart, 1992 and 1993 Paulista 125cc kart, 1990 Manaus 85cc kart.
Racing History:
Began karting career aged 10, winning the track championship at Manaus, his
local track, in 1990. Graduated to circuit’s 125cc class in 1991, finishing
third, and won the Paulista 125cc title the following year, as well as finished
third in the Brazilian national series. Won the 1993 Paulista championship
again for 125cc karts and moved up to the more powerful 125cc Formula B kart
in 1994, winning the Paulista title and finishing second in the Brazilian
Championship. Stayed in Formula B karts for 1995, finishing runner-up in the
Paulista championship and won the Brazilian Formula A championship in 1996.
Made his UK debut in 1996 as well in the Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series
and took part in the 1997 Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship taking four
wins, and winner of the three races in the Winter Series. Won the 1998 Formula
Vauxhall Junior Championship with eight victories and won the Formula Renault
Sport Winter Championship with Manor Motorsport. In 1999, he dominated the
Formula Renault Sport Championship taking 11 wins and finished runner-up to
Gianmaria Bruni in the Formula Renault Sport Eurocup.
Westley Barber - 15
Car: Dallara
F300 Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Alan Docking Racing
Colour: Blue
Age: 18
Date of Birth: 19/1/82
Nationality: GB
Lives: Northampton
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: UK Rookie
Titles won: 1998 French Renault Campus, 1996 European Winter Kart, 1991
National 60cc Cadet kart
Racing History:
Began his career in karting winning the 1991 National 60cc Cadet title, and
finished runner-up in 1992 British Open Championship for 60cc Cadet karts.
In 1992 he became an instructor for the first time, aged just ten, when he
taught Princes William and Harry how to race! He also received a Christmas
present from them at the end of the year. In 1994 he finished third overall
in the British Super 1 Kart Championship 100cc TKM Class, and switched to
the Italian Team Rambo in 1995. Raced in the European and World Championship
for 100cc Junior Intercontinental A karts, finishing fifth in Europe and 12th
in the world series. Moved to the German FAE team for 1996 and finished 10th
in the World Championship 12th in the European competition. Also won the Winter
European Championship at Michael Schumacher’s home circuit of Kerpen. Won
1997 Elf Fastrack competition at Silverstone to secure one of the three places
at the Elf La Filiere School and race in Renault Campus series. Won 1998 Renault
Campus Championship with a record six wins from 10 rounds, and moved into
F3 in France in 1999 in the Promotion Class driving a Martini MK73/Spiess
Opel, finishing fourth in the championship.
Takuma Sato - 9
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Carlin Motorsport
Colour: Red/White/Black
Age: 23
Date of Birth: 28/1/77
Nationality: Japanese
Lives: Coventry
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Half-season
Titles won: 1997 Japanese FA2
Racing History
Began career in karts in 1996 in native Japan. Won 1997 FA2 Championship for
karts in Japan and attended the Suzuka Racing School. Made car racing debut
in 1998 at Snetterton in the Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship and also
experienced slicks and wings for the first time in 1998, competing in selected
rounds of the Formula Opel European Union Series. Raced in Europa Cup in early
1999, winning opening race of the season at Donington, and moved into F3 in
the National Class with Diamond Racing mid-season. Won first time out at the
British Grand Prix and graduated to Championship Class in 2000.
Ben Collins - 10
Car: Dallara
F300 Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Carlin Motorsport
Colour: Red/white/black
Age: 25
Date of Birth: 13/2/75
Nationality: GB
Lives: Bristol
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Third season
Racing History
Successfully combined studying for a law degree with a career in a junior
single seater racing. Began in the National Formula First Championship in
1994, taking a win en route to fifth in the championship. Graduated to Formula
Vauxhall Lotus in 1995 bagging two wins and third in the championship, and
finished second in the Winter Series that year as well. Moved into Formula
Vauxhall in 1996, but suffered reliability problems his car , and so moved
into Class B of the F3 series instead. Took five Class B wins and then moved
up into the Championship Class in 1997, his best result being a second place
at Oulton Park. Enjoyed a troubled 1998 in the British F3 championship and
then headed stateside to race in the Indy Lights series in 1999. Returns to
F3 in the UK this year with Carlin Motorsport and admits the cars have changed
a fair bit since he last raced one!
Now in its tenth year, Fortec Motorsport has enjoyed a rapid and successful rise in single seater racing, winning championships in each of the categories in which it has competed. The team's goal for the 2000 season is to add the British Formula Three title to the achievements listed below:
1990
Formula Renault Champions
Voted best team in British Club Racing by Motoring News
1991
Formula Renault Champions
Formula First Champions with Oliver Gavin
Took Oliver Gavin to the McLaren Autosport Star of Tomorrow
1992
Third in British F3 Championship winning twice in debut Season in the
Formula
Formula Forward – 2 litre – Champions with Eugene O’Brien
Pole position – Marlboro Masters of Europe Formula Three GP
Pole position – British Grand Prix Formula Three Race – 3 race wins
Invited to the prestigious Macau and Fuji Formula Three Grand Prix
1993
Fifth in British Formula Three Championship (1 pole position and 4 podiums)
Andrea Riberio now a winner in Cart Championship
1994
5th and 7th in British Formula Three Championship 1 Win, 8 Podiums,
7 Fastest Laps
1995
6th and 7th British F3 Championship 1 Win, 9 Podiums
1996
5th and 6th British F3 Championship 3 Wins, 3 Podiums Qualified front
row Marlboro Masters
1997
1 Win, 1 Second, 1 Third Fastest lap and new lap record at Pembrey,
Qualified front row Marlboro Masters
We aim to achieve our goals through partnership with outstanding talented young drivers and by creating an environment where the financial and management disciplines so essential to modern motorsport are kept separate from the highly charged atmosphere of the race track, whether on a test or race day.
The Racing Team
Team Personnel
We consider continuity to be a vital ingredient in our success and many of our key personnel have been with the Team throughout its development. All of our people are employed exclusively and based on proven experience. Each car entered has two mechanics assigned permanently for the season to each driver/car combination. The same is true of the race engineer who is the vital link. Every one of our engineers has won races on Formula 3 and knows how critical the smallest advantage is in qualifying – the single most important element in achieving Championship success.
The Equipment
In 2000 Fortec will be competing with the DALLARA F300 chassis. Engine power will be provided by the Mugen Honda XH6 engine. We believe this combination to be the most competitive choice.
The Drivers
Michael Bentwood - 7
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Fortec Motorsport
Colour: White/Red
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 10/1/78
Nationality: GB
Lives: Cheshire
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Fifth season
Titles won: 1994 Cumbria Challenge
Racing History:
Began career in karts in 1993, finishing runner-up in Northern Championship
and winning 1994 Cumbria Challenge. Made his car racing debut in 1994, finishing
tenth in the Formula First Winter Series. Continued in cars in 1995, racing
in the Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series, and then moved into Formula
3 in 1996. Stayed in F3 in 1997, graduating from Class B to the Championship
Class, and switching from SpeedSport to Carlin and for 2000, Fortec.
Gianmaria Bruni - 8
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Fortec Motorsport
Colour: White/red
Age: 18
Date of Birth: 30/5/81
Nationality: Italian
Lives: London
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1999 Formula Renault Sport Eurocup, 1998 Formula Campus Italian
Championship, 1992 Italian 100cc Regional kart, 1991 Trofeo dei Campioni,
Trofeo dei Sagittaria, Trofeo dei triolo for karts.
Racing History:
Started competing in karts despite having to pretend that he was 12 when he
was only 10 years of age! Won assorted local titles in 1991 and added the
Italian 100cc Regional crown to his CV in 1992. Continued in 100cc Junior
class, finishing third in 1996 European Championship. Finished third in Italian
100 ICA kart series in 1997, and moved into cars in 1998. Won 1998 Formula
Campus Italian Championship and then had season-long duel with Antonio Pizzonia
to clinch Formula Renault Sport Eurocup in 1999 at the last round, despite
having had to miss the opening round due to illness.
Milos Pavlovic - 11
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Spiess Opel
Team: RC Benetton Junior Team
Colour: Pale blue
Age: 19
Date of Birth: 8/12/80
Nationality: Yugoslav
Lives: Milton Keynes
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1996 World Cup in Formula A class;
1992 Yugoslav 100 Junior and Mini Kart national championships
Racing History:
Started competing in 1991 in local kart events, winning his country’s 100
Junior and Mini Kart champioships the following year.
Moved to Italy in 1993, becoming the regional champion in the 100 Junior class. In 1994 he achieved third place in the 100 Junior world championship and was vice-champion of Europe in the same class. He raced in the Italian national 100 category in 1995, and won the World Cup in the Formula A class, the Ayrton Senna Trophy, at Suzuka in 1996. That led to him being invited to race at Paris Bercy in the indoor meeting at the end of the year, where he raced against Formula 1 drivers.
He moved into Formula racing in 1996, entering two Renault Campus races in Italy, and attended the Jim Russell Racing Drivers’ School at Donington Park in 1997, driving Formula Vauxhall cars and winning the end-of-course race.
Took part in most of the Formula Vauxhall Junior series in the UK in 1998, finishing tenth in the championship. He drove in the Formula Vauxhall championship again in 1999, scoring wins at Snetterton and Brands Hatch. He also notched up three third places and two pole positions. He finished the championship ranking fourth. For 2000, he has switched to Formula 3, with the new-to-UK RC Benetton Junior Team.
Nicolas Kiesa - 12
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Spiess Opel
Team: RC Benetton Junior Team
Colour: Pale blue
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 3/3/78
Nationality: Danish
Lives: Herts
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1999 Slick 50 Formula Ford, 1996 Scandinavian kart, 1993
Scandinavian kart, 1991 Danish Cadet kart.
Racing History:
Started competing in karts in 1991, winning his country’s Cadet category with
19 wins out of 20 races. Competed in the World Junior Karting Championship
in 1992, finishing as runner-up, and won the 1993 Scandinavian Karting championship
as well as taking fourth place in the European Championship. Finished fourth
in the European Championship again in 1994 and fifth in 1995, before a busy
1996 resulted in championship honours in the Scandinavian Championship, second
in the World Championship and fourth in the European Championship. Finished
second in the 1997 Monaco Karting Grand Prix and fourth in the North American
Karting series, as well as making his car race debut at Snetterton in the
Winter Formula Ford Championship. Finished seventh in 1997 Winter Formula
Ford Championship and in 1998 finished fourth in British Championship, taking
a win, third in the Formula Ford Festival and fifth in the Winter Championship.
1999 resulted in winning the Slick 50 Formula Ford Championship in the UK
with seven wins and finished third in the Formula Ford Eurocup.
The name Promatecme is taken from
the highlighted letters of the following four words:
(PROmotion MAnagement, TEChnical and MEchanical)
The Promatecme team was founded in 1980 by former top-level French racer Serge Saulnier. At first it competed in the European F3 series and then switched its attention to the French F3 championship. Among its drivers during those formative years were Jean-Marc Gounon and Pascal Fabre - both future Formula One drivers.
In 1990, the team enjoyed its best ever season, finishing runner-up in France with Ludovic Faure. Two years later it achieved its dream of a 1-2 finish overall with another future F1 driver, Franck Lagorce, and Emmanuel Clerico.
Its efforts remained concentrated in the French series until the end of the 1995 season - its first with Renault's still-developing F3 engine. Promatecme's experience with the engine, allied to its track record, made it the ideal candidate to run Renault UK's British F3 programme.
While keeping its HQ at Magny-Cours, Promatecme opened up a British base at Silverstone. In the 1996 UK season, its French driver Nicolas Minassian finished fourth overall and took two wins towards the end of the year. Minassian then finished championship runner-up in 1997, while team-mate Enrique Bernoldi ensured the team ended the year with eight victories - as many as all its rivals' added together. The following year saw Bernoldi take over the role of team 'number one' and, after leading the series, eventually finished overall runner-up.
The 1999 season marked a new dawn for the team: it took on a fresh title, Renault Fina Promatecme, and two new drivers, in Formula Renault Sport and Formula Ford champions, Brazilian Aluizio Coelho and Briton Jenson Button respectively - the latter the first driver in its four-year history not to come from a Renault racing background. In addition, Sodemo took over as the team's engine builder. Button claimed three race victories and three pole positions to finish third overall in the series. Coelho ended the season 11th overall. Button then took second place for the team in both the Far East Macau and Korea Formula Grands Prix before graduating to Formula One in 2000 with the WilliamsF1 team.
In 2000, the team - as it was
from 1996-98 - is officially sponsored by Elf, hence its new title of Renault
Elf Promatecme F3. It has an all-new British driver line-up, having signed
Matthew Davies, now starting his second season in F3, and reigning Renault
Spider Cup champion Andy Priaulx.
DRIVER CAREERS: RENAULT ELF PROMATECME F3
Matthew Davies (GB)
Date of Birth:
28 December 1976
Place of Birth:
Chelmsford, Essex
Now Lives: Billericay, Essex
Marital Status:
Single, with girlfriend Kate, no children
Racing History
1987-94
Sensational karting career netted 11 major titles. Was National Cadet
Champion in '87 and also claimed back-to-back RAC British Cadet titles in
'87-'88.
Won British Junior Open in '91 and became British Junior Champion in '92. Won '93 Formula A Winter Series and finished third in Italian round of European Formula A series. Won five Formula A titles in 1994, including both British and Vauxhall/Autosport series outright, plus British Open, Winter Series and Renault Superprix.
Karting career also saw him compete in Formula Super A category in Europe in '93 and '94 as team-mate to current Benetton Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella in Italian PCR outfit. Among his rivals was Jordan F1 driver Jarno Trulli.
1995
Graduated to cars in French Renault Elf Campus single-seater race series.
Finished fourth overall, winning one round at Albi.
1996
Finished fourth overall in British Formula Ford series in a Haywood
Racing-run Mygale. Won non- championship International Trophy race at Brands
Hatch.
1997
Won French Formula Ford title in a Graff Racing-run Van Diemen. Also
took first in Spa- Francorchamps round of Formula Ford Eurocup.
1998 Won French Formula Renault
Championship, claiming five race wins with factory Mygale team. Also finished
second overall in Formula Renault Eurocup after leading series until penultimate
round.
1999 Fifth overall in British Formula 3 Championship with Fortec Motorsport,
claiming a pair of second and third-place finishes apiece.
2000 British Formula 3 Championship with Renault Elf Promatecme F3 team.
Q&A: MATT DAVIES
Hero? In motor racing: James Hunt.
Not in racing: Mohammed Ali.
Favourite Racing Driver? Eddie Irvine
Favourite Musician/CD? Robbie Williams/'The Man Who ...', by Travis.
Favourite Film? 'The Italian Job'
Dream Car? McLaren F1
Dream Home Location? Britney Spears' house.
Dream Holiday? Thailand
Any Hates? Broccoli and sleeping in cars
Favourite Food? Indian or pasta
Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera? Britney Spears
Most Embarrassing Moment? My first car was a Metro (until I wrote it off two
weeks later). Also, not completing a lap on my F3 debut!
What thing in the world would you change? Find a cure for all disease.
Andy Priaulx (GB)
Date of Birth: 8 August
1973
Place of Birth: Guernsey
Now Lives: Towcester, Northants
Marital Status: Married to Jo, no children
Racing History
1982-85
Club level karting for four seasons.
1986-91 Contested Jersey and Guernsey
motocross championships, winning two titles.
1991
On water, won the Off-Shore Class 3 Powerboat title. Also started hill
climbing in a Mallock.
1993-94
A front-runner in hill climbing's Formula 2 division. Netted Driver
of the Year award in '94.
1995 Won British Hill Climb title outright in a Pilbeam.
1996
Contested Formula Renault Sport Championship race series, with Startline
and Martello Racing teams. Finished third for Martello in Winter Trophy race
at Donington Park.
1997 Limited British Formula
3 Championship programme with TOM'S and Speedsport teams.
1998 Contested second half of Renault Spider Cup with Mardi Gras Motorsport,
finishing eighth overall. Best result: second, at Snetterton and Silverstone,
plus two lap records and one pole position.
1999 Dominated Renault Spider Cup and made history by winning all 13 rounds,
each from pole position. Also set fastest lap in every round except two, five
of them lap records.
2000 British Formula 3 Championship with Renault Elf Promatecme F3 team.
Q&A: ANDY PRIAULX
Hero? Ayrton Senna
Favourite Racing Driver? Nigel Mansell
Favourite Musician/CD? Bee Gees
Favourite Film? 'Austin Powers: Man Of Mystery'.
Dream Car? Ferrari 355
Dream Home Location? Cliff top location back home in Guernsey.
Dream Holiday? Safari in Africa.
Any Hates? People sneezing in confined areas.
Favourite Food? Shepherd's Pie
Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera? I can't make my mind up - they're both
honeys.
Most Embarrassing Moment? Being interviewed on TV with a piece of ham dangling
from my teeth!
What thing in the world would you change? Cruelty to animals.
TEAM PARTNERS: RENAULT ELF PROMATECME F3
ELF
The world leader in competition fuels and lubricants and a title sponsor
of the team. Also sponsored team from 1996-98.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION: RENAULT ELF PROMATECME F3 CAR
Chassis Type:
Dallara F300
Dimensions
Length:
3.97m
Width:
1.57m
Weight:
540kg (including driver)
Engine Type
Engine base:
Mégane 2-litre, 16-valve
Development:
Renaultsport, at Viry-Châtillon/Sodemo, at Magny-Cours
Power (estimate):
205bhp
Details
Dry Weight:
96kg
Bore:
84mm
Stroke:
90mm
Compression Ratio:
13:1
Lubricant
Engine:
Elf HTX703 (gearbox)
Gearbox:
Elf XT3818 (engine)
Number of Gears 5
Performance
Top speed: 160 mph
0-60mph: 3.2 seconds
The team was formed to compete in the British Hillclimb Championship, which Ray Rowan himself won in 1989, but switched to circuit racing in 1992 using the driving ability of Ray's nephew, Martin O'Connell. The combination won the Championship in that season, then moved up to Formula Vauxhall in which Martin was runner-up (to Jonny Kane) in 1995. Formula 3 became part of the program the following season and in 1996 Martin was absolutely dominant in the National Class (formerly Class B) and often got among the Championship front runners in his older car.
Last year Martin switched to the TOM'S GB team for the first half of the season and made a strong Championship bid, whilst Rowan Racing was running two cars in the National class. These were basically Dallara F395s, updated to '96 specification, and powered by TOM'S Toyota engines.
Unexpectedly, TOM'S was sold to Audi mid-season and Rowan Racing stepped forward to take over its operations. Martin O'Connell came back into the family fold and saw out the season with the Dallara F398, but various problems blunted his challenge. The Australian driver, Phillip Scifleet took one of the earlier cars to National class honours, then went home to try to raise the budget for a Championship Class bid the next year. For a while the team ran Adam Wilcox in a sister car to O'Connell's, but that was then sold to Warren Carway, who had started the year in the other National Class car.
1999 began on a high note when the team took a pair of the previously unsuccessful TOM'S 037F cars out to India for a four-race mini series. After a hectic time in torrid heat, Martin O'Connell finally became the first two-time winner of the Madras Formula 3 Grand Prix and notched up a couple of wins for the TOM'S chassis.
For 2000 the team has sponsorship from Alphaclub.com, and are running cars in the Championship Class for O'Connell and Carway, and for Christian Columbo in the Scholarship Class
Martin O’Connell - 17
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Rowan Racing
Colour: Red/Silver/Yellow
Age: 27
Date of Birth: 15/4/72
Nationality: GB
Lives: Walsall
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Fifth season
Titles won: 1997 British Formula 3 Class B, 1995 Formula Vauxhall, 1994 Formula
Vauxhall Class B, 1992 Formula Vauxhall.
Racing History:
Despite running on the most frayed of shoestrings, does remarkable things
with a fraction of most others’ budgets. Burst into car racing in 1991, winning
the 1992 Formula Vauxhall Junior crown and moved up to Formula Vauxhall in
1993 taking a race win, winning Class B in the 1994 Championship and winning
the 1995 Formula Vauxhall Championship outright. Then moved up into F3 in
1996 racing in Class B, taking five wins from seven races. Continued in F3
in 1997 winning Class B in the championship and scoring several top six overall
finishes, including a remarkable second at Donington. Won Madras Grand Prix
for the first time. Moved up to Championship Class in 1998 finishing fifth
overall and then dropped back to National Class in 1999 winning the class
in the championship with 10 wins and also won the Madras Grand Prix for the
second time.
Warren Carway - 18
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Rowan Racing
Colour: Red/Silver/Yellow
Age: 26
Date of Birth: 17/8/73
Nationality: IRL
Lives: Milton Keynes
Marital Status: Married
F3 History: Third season
Titles won: 1994 All Ireland Karting
Racing History:
Successful early career in karting resulted in winning the 1994 All Ireland
Championship, finishing fifth in that year’s Irish National Championship and
third in the Southern Ireland Championship. Moved up to cars in 1995 in the
Formula Vauxhall Winterseries, after he’d finished runner-up in that year’s
All Ireland and Irish karting championships. Raced in Formula Vauxhall in
1996 in the UK, and combined British and European races in 1997, before making
the switch to Formula 3. Raced in the National Class in 1998 finishing second
after a win at Brands Hatch, and raced in the Championship Class in 1999 as
well as making his sportscar debut in the Matrix in the SRWC Championship
with Martin O’Connell.
Christian Colombo - 51
Car: Dallara F398
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Rowan Racing
Colour: Red/Silver/yellow
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 25/05/77
Nationality: Italian
Lives: Milan
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Three races
Racing History:
Began his career in karting in 1998 and raced in the 1993 60cc Cadet Championship
before moving up to 100cc National Class. Did just three races in the Formula
Europa Boxer class in 1994 but completed the full 1995 season finishing sixth
in the championship. Drove in three F3 races in the 1996 Italian Championship
and spent 1998 as a test driver for ex-Grand Prix driver Piercarlo Ghinzani’s
team. Raced in the Ferrari F355 Challenge in 1999, finishing third in the
Italian Championship and finishing second in the World Championship event.
Team Avanti was formed this year and came into the Championship straightaway, but started late, having missed all the pre-season testing. This followed the collapse of a projected deal for Andrew Kirkaldy to race in the American F3 Championship due to team sponsorship problems over there. Team Avanti was fortunate in being able to acquire a car from SS Sport, which unexpectedly pulled out of motor racing just before the start of the season. As last year, the car has an Opel Spiess engine, although it is not the new, lightweight version, which is being used only by the RC Benetton team this year.
The team is based at Silverstone and run by Nigel Clyde, whose motorsport CV is impressive. He spent the last three years as an engineer with the Benetton F1 test team, having started in F3 with Paul Stewart Racing, engineering Ralph Fairman's British Championship challenge in 1995. In that year, Ralph was consistently the fastest man on the track, but lost the title due to some indiscretions at the penultimate meeting at Silverstone. The next step for Nigel was a move to the AMG team in Germany, where he was Dario Franchitti's engineer when Dario was driving Mercedes-Benz in the highly competitive DTM and ITC Championships.
Although the link with the Andrew Kirkaldy is close this season, the team's intention is to stay in British F3 for the foreseeable future and early results on a very limited budget suggest that it is destined to become a major player.
ANDREW KIRKALDY
Date of Birth:
01.03.76
Place of Birth:
St. Andrews, Scotland
Now Living: St. Andrews, Scotland
Marital Status: Single
Racing History
1989
Junior Karting - Scottish Champion
1993 Senior Karting - Scottish Champion
1995 Formula Ford 1600 - 8 wins
1996
Formula Vauxhall Junior - 5th, 4 wins
1997 Formula Vauxhall - 2nd, 3 wins
McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year
1998 Formula Opel Euroseries
- 2nd, 5 wins
1999 Formula Three - Stewart Racing
1997 was an important year for Andrew, in his Rowan Racing Formula Vauxhall, he pushed Paul Stewart Racing’s Luciano Burti all the way, the title only being settled in the last race, and he ended the year by winning the prestigious McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award.
Having raced for the PSR team in last year’s Formula Opel Euroseries, Andrew now steps up to the Formula Three squad, and has former rival Burti as his team-mate. Highlight of his 1998 Opel campaign was a win at the British Grand Prix support race, one of his five victories that year.
Andrew’s ultimate racing ambition is simply: "To win the Formula One World Championship and become a millionaire." Unsurprisingly, the person he most respects in motor racing is Jackie Stewart, "for giving me the chance to further my career." Outside the sport, it is long-time sponsor Sandy Watson he admires, for building up his business and enabling Andrew to go racing.
The biggest sacrifice, and the worst thing he has ever done to his family, has been to leave Scotland to be near his team, though having to give up skiing ranks a close second.
Andrew says that he likes most forms of music, though the first album he bought was by T’Pau. His best ever holiday was three weeks in Switzerland skiing and snowboarding, and his favourite place in the UK is home town St. Andrews.
Founded in 1975 Alan Docking Racing (ADR) have achieved success in major international and national championships including the European Formula 2 Championship, the British Touring Car Championship, the World Sports Car Championship, the British Formula Three Championship, and International Formula Three events in Holland, Macau and Japan.
ADR have the skills, experience and motivation to help any driver to perform to his maximum ability. Approximately 30% of ADR drivers have gone on to compete in Formula 1. As well as being a top racing team capable of competing at the highest level in any formula; the current staff of engineers and mechanics, which includes personnel from some of the best known teams in the sport, have approximately 90 years experience in race car preparation and engineering.
The British Formula Three Championship
ADR has an enviable reputation in this, the most prestigious Formula 3 Championship in the world. Past ADR formula three team drivers include:
British Formula Three Championship winners Rupert Keegan and Stephen South; and Formula 1 drivers, Hideki Noda, Mika Salo and Ricardo Rossett; and British Formula 2 Champion and Procar Champion Philippe Adams; and Formula 3000 drivers Kurt Mollkens, Garath Rees, Gonzalo Rodrigues and Marc Gene. ADR’s 1997 driver Mark Webber has joined the AMG Mercedes team in the FIA World Sports Car Championship.
International Formula Three Events
Only the world’s best formula 3 drivers get to compete in the blue ribbon events in Holland and Macau. ADR has been the most successful team at the International Marlboro Masters event in Holland – having won twice.
Two of the many drivers who have raced with ADR at the Macau GP are the current Williams F1 drivers, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and World Champion Jacques Villeneuve.
The European Formula Two Championship
ADR ran a works Toleman Hart F2 team in this championship, competing at circuits in Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and England. Team drivers included /Stefan Johansson, Huub Rothengatter, Seigfried Stohr and Kenny Acheson.
The British Touring Car Championship
This was a two-year programme to develop and race a Holden Commodore saloon in what, even then, was considered to the world’s most competitive saloon car championship. Autoglass and Swan National sponsored the project and Mike O’Brien drove the car to its maiden victory at Snetterton.
The Worlds Sports Car Championship
Approached by Mazdaspeed Japan (a division of Mazda Cars, Japan), ADR’s brief was to assist in the design and development of a racing sports car. A design office was set up in the U.K. with parts being manufactured in the U.K. and Japan and the car was built by Mazdaspeed Tokyo.
This project together with a wind tunnel research unit ran for six years with the car competing successfully in Japan and Europe culminating in outright victory at Le Mans.
Tor Sriachavanon - 16
Car: Dallara F300
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Alan Docking Racing
Colour: white
Age: 27
Date of Birth: 28/3/72
Nationality: Thai
Lives: Harrow
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Second season
Racing History:
Made racing debut in the UK in Formula First back in 1993 for a learning season.
Stayed in the category and finished seventh in the 1994 before graduating
to Formula Renault Sport. Finished 10th in the 1995 Formula Renault Sport
series and was 14th in 1996. Remained loyal to the Renault category for a
further two seasons, finishing in 11th place in 1997 and seventh in less well-supported
1998. Graduated to F3 with Manor Motorsport in 1999 but was overshadowed by
team-mate and champion Marc Hynes.
MARCOS AMBROSE - 15
Racing History:
TO FOLLOW:
Phillip Hopkins - 52
Car: Dallara F397
Engine: Spiess Opel
Team: Hopkins Motorsport
Colour: White/Yellow/Blue
Age: 24
Date of Birth: 3/2/76
Nationality: GB
Lives: Bristol
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Third season
Titles won: 1994 Castle Combe FF1600 Junior category
Racing History:
Son of former truck racer Reg Hopkins, began racing in FF1600 in 1993 at local
Castle Combe circuit. Continued in the category in 1994 winning the junior
award and finished fourth in the junior element of the British FF1600 series.
Moved up into Formula 3 in 1995 with sponsorship from an anti-smoking campaign
and finished fifth in Class B. Continued in F3 in 1996 taking five fastest
laps, two poles and a win in class before a huge accident at Thruxton eroded
as much of the car as it did his budget. Raced in the British GT series in
1997 in family-prepared Ultima, as he did in 1998, but had an enormous accident
at Castle Combe in late 1998 breaking both his legs. Sat out 1999, but returns
to F3 with ex-Yves Olivier Dallara.
Craig Fleming - 54
Details will follow shortly...
Atsushi Katsumata - 55
Car: Dallara F398
Engine: TOM’S Toyota
Team: Meritus
Colour: Red
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 1/9/79
Nationality: Japanese
Lives: Derby
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Racing History:
Only competed in 10 races prior to 2000 British Formula 3 Championship, none
of which were in 1999! Managed by ex-Formula Vauxhall Junior racer Hiroki
Furose, he began karting in 1995 and joined the Suzuka Racing School in 1996,
continuing there in 1997. Raced in the Japanese Formula 4 series in 1998,
taking part in five races, and sat out 1999 raising finances to come to Europe.
Marcel Romanio - 56
Details will be posted shortly...
Gary Paffett - 61
Car: Dallara F398
Engine: Renault
Team: Fred Goddard Racing/
Zip Kart Young Guns
Colour: Red
Age: 20
Date of Birth: 24/3/80
Nationality: GB
Lives: Hoddesdon
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1999 BRDC/McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year, 1999 Formula
Vauxhall, 1998 Formula Vauxhall Junior Class B, 1996 Junior ICA Champions
of the Future kart, 1995 Junior TKM British kart.
Racing History:
Karting sensation in his early teens, finished third in the 1993 Junior Cadet
British Championship. Graduated to the Junior TKM series in 1994, finishing
runner-up, and won the crown in 1995 as well as finishing second in the Junior
ICA European Championship. Carried on the impressive karting form in 1996
winning the Champions of the Future crown and finished as runner-up in the
Junior ICA RAC British Championship. Switched to cars in 1997, finishing Best
Newcomer in that year’s Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series, and gave up
his A-level studies to prepare for a full season in 1998. Won the Class B
championship in Formula Vauxhall that year and finished fifth in the Formula
Palmer Audi Winter Series. Won 1999 Formula Vauxhall title after some stunning
drives, particularly in the wet at Silverstone in the final round.
Ryan Walker - 66
Car: Dallara F398
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Diamond Racing Team
Colour: White
Age: 21
Date of Birth: 3/10/79
Nationality: American
Lives: Michigan
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Titles won: 1997 Canadian Formula Ford 2000
Racing History:
Began racing in 1994 finishing second in the Junior section of the World Karting
Championship. Graduated to car racing for 1996, racing in the Canadian Formula
Ford 2000 Championship taking two pole position and a win, and then wrapped
up the title the following year, thanks to 15 wins from 18 races. Spent 1998
testing for various Indy Lights teams, but moved to UK-based Europa Cup in
1999, contesting occasional races in the main championship as well as the
Winter Series.
Mark Mayall - 77
Car: Dallara F398
Engine: Mugen Honda
Team: Diamond Racing Team
Colour: Blue/Silver
Age: 22
Date of Birth: 7/7/77
Nationality: GB
Lives: Warwickshire
Marital Status: Single
F3 History: Rookie
Racing History:
Former Warwickshire county hockey player, only began racing in 1998, taking
on the might of the Caterham Roadsport ranks. Competed in end-of-season Winter
GT races to gain experience and tackled full Roadsport season in 1999, as
well as occasional GT outings. Won GT3 Class at the British Grand Prix in
a Marcos Mantis, but switches to single-seaters for the first time in 2000.