British Formula 3000
Encyclopedia
The British Formula 3000 championship, alternatively known as the British Formula Two Championship, was a competition for Formula 3000
held in the United Kingdom
, active from 1989 to 1994 and in 1996. Several attempts to restart the series since then have met with failure.
could be seen on the grid, with the predominant engine being the Cosworth
DFY. Grids increased until the series reached its apex in 1991.
The first two champions, Gary Brabham
and Pedro Chaves
, moved up to Formula One
but met little success, never qualifying for a race. In 1991, Paul Warwick, younger brother to then-Arrows
F1 driver Derek
, dominated the first half of the series but died in a fatal crash mid-season at Oulton Park
, but retained the lead through the final round and was awarded the title posthumously.
, although it had nothing to do with the competition that had previously carried that name, continuing to be an actual Formula 3000 series. Grids kept dwindling and after mid-1993 less than ten cars appeared regularly on the grid.
Yvan Muller
won the title in 1992 before leaving single-seaters and moving to touring car racing
, but 1993 champion Philippe Adams
had a brief career in F1. Jose Luis Di Palma
was champion the next year but competitive drivers were few.
In 1995, an attempt to switch to a spec series with Reynard chassis and Cosworth engines failed to get off the ground when the series was cancelled after posting only one entry. In 1996 the series was resurrected and Gareth Rees
dominated the action, and was the final champion.
engines, but the new championship was cancelled after the first round was contested by only three cars.
In 1999, an attempt at creating the UK3000 Championship was interrupted at the last minute when the FIA
decided against limiting the grid sizes and teams dropped the British series for the International one, finishing UK3000 before it started. An Italian-based national series met with more success, though.
The BRSCC attempted to create a Formula 3000 Autumn Cup at the end of the 2000 season, with Lola B99/50 chassis, but although some International teams pledged to enter the series, a low number of entries made it impossible to start the series with any quality grids.
Formula 3000
The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship...
held in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, active from 1989 to 1994 and in 1996. Several attempts to restart the series since then have met with failure.
British F3000
The original championship was started in 1989 as a national series for one-year old F3000 single-seaters. Cars from both Lola and Reynard MotorsportReynard
Reynard is the subject of a literary cycle of allegorical French, Dutch, English, and German fables largely concerned with Reynard, an anthropomorphic red fox and trickster figure.-Etymology of the name:Theories about the origin of the name Reynard are:...
could be seen on the grid, with the predominant engine being the Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
DFY. Grids increased until the series reached its apex in 1991.
The first two champions, Gary Brabham
Gary Brabham
Gary Brabham is a former professional racing driver from Australia and a British Formula 3000 champion.-Racing career:...
and Pedro Chaves
Pedro Chaves
Pedro António Matos Chaves is a Portuguese racing driver.Chaves was the second Portuguese Formula Ford Champion, in 1986, starting an international career in 1987 in the British Formula Ford Championship...
, moved up to Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
but met little success, never qualifying for a race. In 1991, Paul Warwick, younger brother to then-Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
F1 driver Derek
Derek Warwick
Derek Stanley Arthur Warwick is a British former racing driver from England. He raced for many years in Formula One, but never won a Grand Prix. During the early 1980s he was thought more likely to achieve World Championship success than his contemporary Nigel Mansell, but a series of wrong...
, dominated the first half of the series but died in a fatal crash mid-season at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, but retained the lead through the final round and was awarded the title posthumously.
British F2
In 1992, the championship was renamed Formula TwoFormula Two
Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, is a type of open wheel formula racing. It was replaced by Formula 3000 in 1985, but the FIA announced in 2008 that Formula Two would return for 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship...
, although it had nothing to do with the competition that had previously carried that name, continuing to be an actual Formula 3000 series. Grids kept dwindling and after mid-1993 less than ten cars appeared regularly on the grid.
Yvan Muller
Yvan Muller
Yvan Muller is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a two-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion.-Single-seaters:...
won the title in 1992 before leaving single-seaters and moving to touring car racing
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, but 1993 champion Philippe Adams
Philippe Adams
- Early career :Adams first began in motorsport at the age of twelve, racing karts, before beginning in car racing in 1984. In 1992, Adams competed in the British Formula Three Championship, finishing second overall in the season...
had a brief career in F1. Jose Luis Di Palma
José Luis Di Palma
José Luis Di Palma , is an Argentine racing driver. He was born in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires province.-Early career:Di Palma began his professional career racing in the Argentine TC 2000 Championship in 1984. After three years in the series and few notabile results, Di Palma moved to formula car...
was champion the next year but competitive drivers were few.
In 1995, an attempt to switch to a spec series with Reynard chassis and Cosworth engines failed to get off the ground when the series was cancelled after posting only one entry. In 1996 the series was resurrected and Gareth Rees
Gareth Rees (motorsport commentator)
Gareth Rees is a Welsh motorsport commentator. He has commentated on a wide variety of series, including Champ Car, IndyCar, the World Series, Formula 3000, Euro 3000, DTM and GP2...
dominated the action, and was the final champion.
UK3000 and Autumn Cup
A new British F3000 was introduced in 1997, now following the spec rules of the International Formula 3000 series, featuring Lola T96/50 chassis and ZytekZytek
Zytek Group Ltd is an automotive and motorsport company founded in 1981 and based in Fradley and Repton, United Kingdom. Zytek Group has two main division: Zytek Automotive, which is based at Fradley, Staffordshire; and Zytek Engineering, which is based at Repton, Derbyshire.-Zytek Automotive:Zytek...
engines, but the new championship was cancelled after the first round was contested by only three cars.
In 1999, an attempt at creating the UK3000 Championship was interrupted at the last minute when the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
decided against limiting the grid sizes and teams dropped the British series for the International one, finishing UK3000 before it started. An Italian-based national series met with more success, though.
The BRSCC attempted to create a Formula 3000 Autumn Cup at the end of the 2000 season, with Lola B99/50 chassis, but although some International teams pledged to enter the series, a low number of entries made it impossible to start the series with any quality grids.
Champions
| Season | Champion | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 |  Gary BrabhamGary Brabham Gary Brabham is a former professional racing driver from Australia and a British Formula 3000 champion.-Racing career:... |
Bromley Motorsport | Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 88D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
| 1990 |  Pedro ChavesPedro Chaves Pedro António Matos Chaves is a Portuguese racing driver.Chaves was the second Portuguese Formula Ford Champion, in 1986, starting an international career in 1987 in the British Formula Ford Championship... |
Mansell Madgwick Motorsport | Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 90D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
| 1991 | Paul Warwick | Mansell Madgwick Motorsport | Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 90D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
| 1992 |  Yvan MullerYvan Muller Yvan Muller is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a two-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion.-Single-seaters:... |
Omegaland | Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 91D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
| 1993 |  Philippe AdamsPhilippe Adams - Early career :Adams first began in motorsport at the age of twelve, racing karts, before beginning in car racing in 1984. In 1992, Adams competed in the British Formula Three Championship, finishing second overall in the season... |
Madgwick International Argo Racing Cars |
Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 91D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 92D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
| 1994 |  Jose Luis Di PalmaJosé Luis Di Palma José Luis Di Palma , is an Argentine racing driver. He was born in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires province.-Early career:Di Palma began his professional career racing in the Argentine TC 2000 Championship in 1984. After three years in the series and few notabile results, Di Palma moved to formula car... |
AJS Racing AJS AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on... Madgwick International |
Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 92D-Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
| 1995 | Not held | ||
| 1996 | Gareth Rees Gareth Rees (motorsport commentator) Gareth Rees is a Welsh motorsport commentator. He has commentated on a wide variety of series, including Champ Car, IndyCar, the World Series, Formula 3000, Euro 3000, DTM and GP2... |
Super Nova Racing Super Nova Racing Super Nova Racing is a British racing team that has competed in Formula 3000/GP2 and the A1 Grand Prix series. Super Nova first entered racing in 1991... |
Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 95D-Mugen Mugen Motorsports Mugen Motorsports is a Japanese company formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda, and Masao Kimura. Mugen, meaning "Without Limit", or "Unlimited", is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer closely associated with the Honda Motor Company... |