1997 British Formula Three season

1997 British Formula Three season
Previous: 1996 Next: 1998

The 1997 British Formula Three season was the 47th British Formula Three Championship, won by Jonny Kane. The season started on 23 March at Donington Park and ended at Thruxton on 12 October following sixteen races. Kane built on a strong finish to his 1996 campaign by scoring podium finishes at each of the first six races in 1997. This would be enough to keep title rival Nicolas Minassian at bay, who was hindered by a disqualification from second place and a two-race ban for unsportsmanlike behaviour at the third round at Thruxton. The Frenchman was baulked by backmarker Michael Bentwood whilst leading, allowing Kane to overtake and take victory. After the chequered flag, the infuriated Minassian proceeded to brake-test Bentwood to a halt and hurl gravel towards the Englishman. Without having lost the 15 points awarded for second position as well as further potential points at the next two races, it is highly likely that Minassian would have been champion.

Race calendar and results

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team National Class Winner
1 Donington Park 23 March United Kingdom Guy Smith United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Stewart Racing No Finishers
2 Silverstone 6 April France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme No Finishers
3 Thruxton 13 April France Nicolas Minassian United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Stewart Racing United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
4 Brands Hatch 27 April Australia Mark Webber Australia Mark Webber Australia Mark Webber United Kingdom Alan Docking Racing United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
5 Silverstone 11 May Australia Mark Webber United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Stewart Racing United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
6 Croft 18 May United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
7 Oulton Park 22 June United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck United Kingdom Stewart Racing No Entrants
8 Silverstone 12 July France Nicolas Minassian Brazil Enrique Bernoldi Brazil Mario Haberfeld United Kingdom Martin Donnelly Racing United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
9 Pembrey 17 August Australia Mark Webber Argentina Brian Smith Argentina Brian Smith United Kingdom Fortec Motorsport No Finishers
10 Brazil Ricardo Mauricio France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
11 Donington Park 24 August France Nicolas Minassian United Kingdom Martin O'Connell France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme United Kingdom Martin O'Connell
12 Snetterton 14 September Argentina Brian Smith Brazil Enrique Bernoldi Brazil Mario Haberfeld United Kingdom Martin Donnelly Racing United Kingdom Damon Wellman
13 France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme United Kingdom Damon Wellman
14* Spa-Francorchamps 28 September France Franck Montagny France Nicolas Minassian Brazil Enrique Bernoldi France Promatecme No Finishers
15 Silverstone 5 October France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme United Kingdom Ian James
16 Thruxton 12 October United Kingdom Jonny Kane United Kingdom Guy Smith France Nicolas Minassian France Promatecme United Kingdom Damon Wellman

Championship

Championship Class

Pos Driver Team Chassis/Engine DON
United Kingdom
SIL
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
BRH
United Kingdom
SIL
United Kingdom
CRO
United Kingdom
OUL
United Kingdom
SIL
United Kingdom
PEM
United Kingdom
DON
United Kingdom
SNE
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
SIL
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
Pts
1 United Kingdom Jonny Kane Stewart Racing Dallara F397-Mugen Honda 1 3 1 3 1 2 4 Ret 2 6 2 3 2 NS 5 2 199
2 France Nicolas Minassian Promatecme Dallara F397-Renault 4 1 DSQ EX EX 1 Ret 3 Ret 1 1 4 1 6 1 1 183
3 United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck Stewart Racing Dallara F397-Mugen Honda 5 2 3 2 4 3 1 13 3 Ret 5 6 5 NS 7 4 149
4 Australia Mark Webber Alan Docking Racing Dallara F397-Mugen Honda 6 6 Ret 1 8 4 8 2 4 3 4 Ret 6 4 3 7 131
5 Brazil Enrique Bernoldi Promatecme Dallara F397-Renault 3 INJ INJ 14 6 5 Ret 10 8 2 8 2 3 1 2 3 127
6 Brazil Mario Haberfeld Martin Donnelly Racing Dallara F397-Opel 9 Ret 7 5 3 11 5 1 Ret 4 Ret 1 7 7 21 5 108
7 Argentina Brian Smith Fortec Motorsport Dallara F397-HKS Mitsubishi Ret 7 4 7 17 8 7 5 1 10 7 7 10 NS 13 Ret 72
8 United Kingdom Ben Collins Fortec Motorsport Dallara F397-HKS Mitsubishi 12 5 8 6 13 7 2 8 11 8 Ret NS NS 8 4 8 64
9 United Kingdom Guy Smith DC Cook Motorsport Dallara F397-Opel 2 10 10 8 14 12 6 6 15 9 6 Ret 4 24 8 14 60
10 United Kingdom Kevin McGarrity TOM'S TOM'S 037F-Toyota 7 NS Ret Ret 11 9 3 4 6 Ret 36
11 Brazil Ricardo Mauricio MRS
TOM'S
Dallara F397-Mugen Honda
TOM'S 037F-Toyota
14 11 6 Ret 15 Ret 7 5 Ret Ret 8 Ret 9 10 Ret 26
12 United Kingdom Darren Manning SpeedSport F3
Promatecme*
Dallara F396-Mugen Honda
Dallara F397-Renault
10 4 NS 9 5 14 Ret 12 Ret 14 Ret 14 11 NS 9 12 26
13 New Zealand Simon Wills Intersport Dallara F397-Opel 8 Ret 9 11 9 10 Ret 16 Ret 7 11 9 12 12 Ret 11 22
14 United Kingdom Jamie Spence TOM'S
DKS
Carlin Motorsport
TOM'S 037F-Toyota
Dallara F397-Mugen Honda
7 Ret Ret 9 5 9 Ret 18
15 United Kingdom Warren Hughes Portman Racing Dallara F397-HKS Mitsubishi 14 16 9 11 8 Ret 6 6 18
16 United Kingdom Mark Shaw Martin Donnelly Racing Dallara F397-Opel 11 9 5 13 Ret 16 9 17 9 13 13 Ret 13 22 12 Ret 16
17 Belgium David Saelens ASM Dallara F397-Opel 2 15
18 France Franck Montagny La Filiere Martini MK73-Opel 3 12
19 Spain Oriol Servia La Filiere Martini MK73-Opel 5 8
20 United Kingdom Paula Cook DC Cook Motorsport Dallara F397-Opel 13 NS 12 Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret 7 11 16 Ret Ret 20 18 10 7
21 Italy Giovanni Anapoli TOM'S TOM'S 037F-Toyota Ret 8 13 Ret 3
22 United Kingdom Martin O'Connell Rowan Racing Dallara F396-Toyota Ret 14 11 15 9 2
23 United Kingdom Darren Turner Portman Racing
TOM'S
Dallara F397-HKS Mitsubishi
TOM'S 037F-Toyota
Ret 14 11 Ret 16 Ret 14 Ret 12 15 10 18 2
24 United Kingdom Henry Stanton Carlin Motorsport Dallara F397-Mugen Honda Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret NS NS 11 Ret 10 23 2
25 United Kingdom Michael Bentwood SpeedSport F3 Dallara F397-Mugen Honda 15 14 10 12 15 11 19 13 17 17 12 16 21 16 13 1
26 United Kingdom Andy Priaulx SpeedSport F3
TOM'S
Dallara F396-Mugen Honda
TOM'S 037F-Toyota
16 10 Ret 17 1
27 Japan Haruki Kurosawa Alan Docking Racing Dallara F397-Mugen Honda 16 13 Ret 12 Ret 13 12 18 10 Ret 14 Ret Ret 19 17 15 1
28 Belgium Bas Leinders Van Amersfoort Racing Dallara F397-Opel 10 1
29 Malaysia Alex Yoong Portman Racing Dallara F397-HKS Mitsubishi 16 11
30 Japan Yudai Igarashi Alan Docking Racing Dallara F397-Mugen Honda 17 15 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret 12 15 12 13 15 Ret 14 16
31 France Sebastien Philippe ASM Dallara F397-Opel 13
32 Netherlands Donny Crevels Prema Powerteam Dallara F397-Opel 14
33 Germany Andreas Scheld Opel Team BSR Dallara F397-Opel 15
34 Belgium Yves Olivier JB Motorsports Dallara F397-Opel 17
35 Switzerland Marcel Fassler La Filiere Martini MK73-Opel 18
36 United Kingdom Tommy Field DKS TOM'S 037F-Toyota 20
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not participate (DNP)
Excluded (EX)

National Class

Pos Driver Team Chassis/Engine DON
United Kingdom
SIL
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
BRH
United Kingdom
SIL
United Kingdom
CRO
United Kingdom
OUL
United Kingdom
SIL
United Kingdom
PEM
United Kingdom
DON
United Kingdom
SNE
United Kingdom
SPA
Belgium
SIL
United Kingdom
THR
United Kingdom
Pts
1 United Kingdom Martin O'Connell Rowan Racing Dallara F395-Toyota Ret Ret 2 4 2 6 15 Ret 5 3 148
2 United Kingdom Damon Wellman Tarry Falcon Racing Dallara F396-Mugen Honda 15 17 20 18 78
3 United Kingdom Ian James Rowan Racing Dallara F395-Toyota Ret 19 21
4 United Kingdom Jeremy Gumbley Tarry Falcon Racing Dallara F396-Mugen Honda 21 15

References

AUTOCOURSE 1997-98
British Motorsport Year 1997-98

External links

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