1981 BRDC International Trophy
The 33rd B.R.D.C. International Trophy, was the opening round of the 1981 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held at Silverstone, on 29 March.[1]
Report
Entry
A total of 46 F2 cars were entered for the event, however just 31 took part in qualifying.[1]
Qualifying
Mike Thackwell took pole position for Ralt Racing Ltd, in their Ralt-Honda RH6/81, averaging a speed of 133.59 mph.[1]
Race
The race was held over 47 laps on a wet Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Mike Thackwell took the winner spoils for works Ralt team, driving their Ralt-Honda RH6/81. Thackwell won in a time of 1hr 11:44.67mins., averaging a speed of 115.23 mph. Over 30 seconds behind was the second place car, driven by Riccardo Paletti, in the March Onyx Racing Team’s March-BMW 812. The podium was completed by the another Italian, Corrado Fabi, in his Roloil Marlboro Racing/March Racing Ltd-entered March-BMW 812, albeit one lap adrift.[2]
Classification
Race Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Entrant | Car - Engine | Time, Laps | Reason Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 15 |  Mike Thackwell |
Ralt Racing Ltd | Ralt-Honda RH6/81 | 1hr 11:44.67 | |
| 2nd | 7 |  Riccardo Paletti |
March Onyx Racing Team | March-BMW 812 | 1hr 12:20.86 | |
| 3rd | 3 | Corrado Fabi |
Roloil Marlboro Racing/March Racing Ltd | March-BMW 812 | 46 | |
| 4th | 77 |  Jim Crawford |
Plygrange Racing Ltd | Toleman-Hart TG280 | 46 | |
| 5th | 12 | Carlo Rossi |
Sanremo Racing Srl | Toleman-Hart TG280 | 46 | |
| 6th | 48 | Brian Robinson |
Grange Performance Cars | Chevron-Hart B42 | 46 | |
| 7th | 14 | Geoff Lees |
Ralt Racing Ltd | Ralt-Honda RH6/81 | 45 | |
| 8th | 36 | Ray Mallock |
Cliff Smith Racing | Ralt-Hart RT4 | 45 | |
| 9th | 1 |  Stefan Johansson |
Docking Spitzley Team Toleman | Lola-Hart T850 | 45 | |
| 10th | 5 |  Christian Danner |
March Racing Ltd | March-BMW 812 | 45 | |
| 11th | 10 | Michele Alboreto |
Minardi Team | Minardi Fly-BMW 281 | 45 | |
| 12th | 24 |  Jürg Lienhard |
Lista Racing Team | March-BMW 802 | 45 | |
| 13th | 27 |  Sewi Hopfer |
Sewi Hopfer Racing | Toleman-Hart TG280 | 44 | |
| 14th | 9 | .svg.png){kind=small} Johnny Cecotto |
Minardi Team | Minardi Fly-BMW 281 | 44 | |
| 15th | 18 | Fredy Schnarwiler |
Formel Rennsport Club | Lola- BMW T850 | 43 | |
| 16th | 29 | Warren Booth |
Colin Bennett Racing | Chevron-Hart B48 | 43 | |
| 17th | 28 | Guido Daccò |
DAC Sport Racing Team | Minardi-BMW GM75 | 42 | |
| 18th | 16 | Eje Elgh |
Maurer Motorsport | Maurer-BMW MM81 | 42 | |
| 19th | 2 | Kenny Acheson |
Docking Spitzley Team Toleman | Lola-Hart T850 | 41 | |
| 20th | 20 | ‘Gianfranco’ |
Astra Team Merzario Srl | March-BMW 812 | 39 | |
| DNF | 4 | .svg.png){kind=small} Thierry Boutsen |
Marlboro Racing for Zolder/March Racing Ltd | March-BMW 812 | 36 | Spin / Gearbox |
| DNF | 11 | Guido Pardini |
Sanremo Racing Srl | Lola-BMW T850 | 24 | Crown wheel & pinion |
| DNF | 31 | Kim Mather |
Kim Mather | March-Hart 792 | 24 | Wheel bearing |
| DNF | 17 |  Roberto Guerrero |
Maurer Motorsport | Maurer-BMW MM81 | 21 | Electrical |
| DNF | 8 |  Richard Dallest |
Team AGS Motul GPA | AGS-BMW JH17 | 8 | Accident |
| DNF | 40 | Paul Smith |
BMTR | March-Hart 782 | 8 | Engine |
| DNS | 19 | Piero Necchi |
Astra Team Merzario Srl | March-BMW 812 | ||
| DNS | 35 | Jochen Dauer |
GRS Motorsport | GRS-BMW TC 001 | ||
| DNQ | 21 | Arturo Merzario |
Astra Team Merzario Srl | Merzario-BMW M1 | ||
| DNQ | 33 | Roy Baker |
Roy Baker | Chevron-Hart B48 | ||
| DNQ | 46 | Bob Howlings |
Bob Howlings | Chevron-Hart B42 | ||
- Fastest lap: Geoff Lees, 1:22.82ecs. (125.94 mph) [1][3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 http://www.formula2.net/F281_2.htm
- ↑ http://formula2.net/F281_2.htm
- ↑ Tristan Wood, "Drive It! The Complete Book of Formula 2 Motor Racing" (Foulis/Haynes, ASIN B009UWU1BW, 1984)