15 replies to this topic

[Rob Ryder]

I wonder if any of you TNF historians could help me with results from the 1989 British F3 Championship. I have been reading through my 1989 issues of ‘Motor Sport’ and for some reason they did not publish the results of the final 4 rounds!

After Round 10 Allan McNish had a 23 point lead in the Championship, with only 4 rounds to go. I know that David Brabham won the Championship and I would love to see the results that caused the big ‘turn around’.

If possible would like the first 10 finishers (as this is all that is published in ‘Motor Sport’) and that way I can complete my results for 1989.

The rounds are:
12/08/89 Snetterton
28/08/89 Silverstone
02/09/89 Brands Hatch
16/09/89 Donington Park

Thanks

Rob

[Marcor]

Silverstone 28 August, round 12, 25 laps = 76.9 km
1- David Brabham (Ralt RT33-VW) 28' 27.4" (162.24 kph)
2- D. Higgins (Ralt RT33-Mugen) 28' 31.8"
3- Alan McNish (Ralt RT33-Mugen) 28' 46.9"
4- J. Elliot (Reynard 893-Vauxhall) 28' 50.4"
5- J. Alcorn (Reynard 893-Alfa) 28' 52.3"
6- J. Estupinan (Ralt RT33-VW) 28' 53.6"

FL: Higgins in 1' 07.73" (163.6 kph)

Brands Hatch 3 September, round 13, 20 laps = 83.1 km
1- Philippe Adams (Ralt RT33-VW) 27' 51.1" (180.22 kph)
2- David Brabham (Ralt RT33-VW) 27' 54.1"
3- J. Alcorn (Reynard 893-Alfa) 27' 57.4"
4- R. Rydell (Reynard 893-VW) 27' 57.6"
5- J. Estupinan (Ralt RT33-VW) 28' 02.2"
6- Mika Hakkinen (Ralt RT33-Toyota) 28' 05.4"

FL- McNish (Ralt RT33-Mugen) 183.33 kph

Championship (unofficial):
1- McNish 54
2- Brabham 47
3- Higgins 41
4- Rydell 29
5- Adams 22
6- Hakkinen 18

Remarks:
Silverstone
Brabham poleman, first from start to finish !
Robertson, on the first grid, retired a few after the start
Adams, third on the finishing line, had a 1 minute penalty.

Brands Hatch
Poleman: Philippe Adams
Alan McNish stalled on the grid, so the start was delayed and he had to start from the pits
First race of the Mazda engine in the Mezera's car (he quickly had to retired, after a collision.
Withdraw: Alain Menu, his team being dissatisfied with their VW engines.

It was a lot question of disqualifications, appeal, ...

[Rob Ryder]

Marc
Thanks for those two results (and comments). Anyone help with the remaining two races?

Allan McNish still with a 7 point lead and only Donington to finish the season. It looks as though your comment about disqualifications must have dropped Allan some points?

Rob

[Paul Hartshorne]

Rob, I have round 11 as Oulton Park on 13th August 1989:confused: Anyway, here we go:

GBF3 1989 - round 11, Oulton Park, 13.8.89, 20 laps = 55.38 miles

1. David Brabham (Ralt-VW RT33) 30'38.89" (108.41 mph)
2. Steve Robertson (Ralt-VW RT33) 30'47.62"
3. Allan McNish (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 30'48.03"
4. Jason Elliott (Reynard-VW 893) 30'58.16"
5. Gary Ayles (Ralt-VW RT33) 30'58.37"
6. Mika Hakkinen (Reynard-Toyota 893) 30'59.47"
7. Rickard Rydell (Reynard-VW 893) 31'01.51"
8. John Alcorn (Reynard-Toyota 893) 31'09.08"
9. John Estupinan (Ralt-VW RT33) 31'10.47"
10. Paul Stewart (Reynard-Mugen 893) 31'13.91"

FL: David Brabham 1'30.7" = 109.9 mph

GBF3 1989 - round 12, Silverstone Club, 28.8.89, 25 laps = 47.83 miles

1. David Brabham (Ralt-VW RT33) 28'27.43" (100.83 mph)
2. Derek Higgins (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 28'31.91"
3. Allan McNish (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 28'46.93"
4. Jason Elliott (Reynard-VW 893) 28'50.44"
5. John Alcorn (Reynard-Toyota 893) 28'51.36"
6. John Estupinan (Ralt-VW RT33) 28'53.692
7. Paul Warwick (Reynard-Toyota 893) 29'03.59"
8. Gary Ayles (Ralt-VW RT33) 29'04.02"
9. Minoru Tanaka (Ralt-Toyota RT33) 29'06.29"
10. Mika Hakkinen (Reynard-Toyota 893) 29'06.64"

FL: Derek Higgins 1'07.73" = 101.68 mph

GBF3 1989 - round 13, Brands Hatch, 3.9.89, 20 laps = 52 miles

1. Philippe Adams (Ralt-VW RT33) 27'51.19" (112.01 mph)
2. David Brabham (Ralt-VW RT33) 27'54.21"
3. John Alcorn (Reynard-Toyota 893) 27'57.51"
4. Rickard Rydell (Reynard-VW 893) 27'57.77"
5. John Estupinan (Ralt-VW RT33) 28'02.73"
6. Mika Hakkinen (Reynard-Toyota 893) 28'05.5"
7. Mika Salo (Reynard-Alfa Romeo 893) 28'07.7"
8. Paulo Carcasci (Reynard-Toyota 893) 28'08.54"
9. Allan McNish (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 28'09.43"
10. Derek Higgins (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 28'09.51"

FL: Allan McNish 1'22.15" = 113.93 mph

GBF3 1989 - round 14, Donington Park, 17.9.89, 15 laps = 37.5 miles

1. Steve Robertson (Ralt-VW RT33) 23'18.68" (96.51 mph)
2. Otto Rensing (Reynard-Mugen 893) 23'26.19"
3. Jason Elliott (Reynard-VW 893) 23'32.99"
4. Derek Higgins (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 23'36.1"
5. Mika Salo (Reynard-Alfa Romeo 893) 23'36.69"
6. Allan McNish (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 23'36.69 (sic!)
7. Paul Stewart (Reynard-Mugen 893) 23'40.47"
8. Gary Ayles (Ralt-VW RT33) 23'43.75"
9. Philippe Adams (Ralt-VW RT33) 23'43.95"
10. John Estupinan (Ralt-VW RT33) 23'44.26"

FL: Steve Robertson 1'31.85" = 97.98 mph

GBF3 1989 - round 15, Silverstone, 7.10.89, 16 laps = 47.6 miles

1. David Brabham (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'21.23" (117.25 mph)
2. Allan McNish (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 24'28.14"
3. Paul Stewart (Reynard-Mugen 893) 24'30.56"
4. Derek Higgins (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 24'31.79"
5. Gary Ward (Reynard-Toyota 893) 24'38.91"
6. Mika Salo (Reynard-Alfa Romeo 893) 24'41.93"
7. Antonio Simoes (Ralt-Alfa Romeo RT33) 24'43.98"
8. Alain Menu (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'45.28"
9. Gary Ayles (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'46.21"
10. John Estupinan (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'48.03"

FL: Allan McNish 1'30.11" = 118.85 mph

GBF3 1989 - round 16, Silverstone, 15.10.89, 20 laps = 47.12 miles

1. Allan McNish (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 24'08.55" (117.1 mph)
2. Rickard Rydell (Reynard-VW 893) 24'15.4"
3. Steve Robertson (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'17.95"
4. Gary Ayles (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'21.41"
5. Antonio Simoes (Ralt-Alfa Romeo RT33) 24'23.08"
6. Philippe Adams (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'23.91"
7. Paul Stewart (Reynard-Mugen 893) 24'25.49"
8. John Estupinan (Ralt-VW RT33) 24'27.01"
9. Paul Warwick (Ralt-Toyota RT33) 24'29.29"
10. Gary Ward (Reynard-Toyota 893) 24'29.84"

FL: Derek Higgins (Ralt-Mugen RT33) 1'11.39" = 118.8 mph

This gives McNish 71 points to Brabham's 56 points! Presumably McNish must have been penalised in some way, anyone remember why?

Cheers, Paul

[Milan Fistonic]

At the British GP support race, won by McNish ahead of Brabham each team protested the others engines. Both were found to be illegal and both were excluded. An appeal was lodged by McNish's entrant, West Surrey Racing, and it took until February for the case to be settled. The race results were allowed to stand and Brabham and McNish kept all their points, thus giving Brabham 80 points to McNish's 71.
Brabham's win gave the Brabham family an IMSA/F3000/F3 trifecta for 1989.

[Rob Ryder]

Paul

Thanks for the results, and the correctimg my error in the Round 11 venue. Old age and looking at too many magazines? Snetterton was Round 10

Thanks also to Milan for clearing up the question of how Brabham had the Championship over McNish.

I wonder if Allan McNish will gain some sort of record if he makes it to Toyota F1 next year? 13 year from F3 to F1 debut!

Rob

[Ross Stonefeld]

Side note:

Derek Higgins is still plugging away, having just won the most recent Indylights race in Mexico

[Tim Wilkinson]

Hi - old thread, but this is only a small query so not worth starting a new one for.

Does anyone know in 1989 drove John Alcorn's 1988 Reynard 883?

Thanks,
Tim

[PMac]

Hi - old thread, but this is only a small query so not worth starting a new one for.

Does anyone know in 1989 drove John Alcorn's 1988 Reynard 883?

Thanks,
Tim

Tim, from what I recall, Alcorn switched chassis during the 1989 season. However, I can't recall whether it was from an 893 to an 883 or the other way round. IIRC, it was TOM'S-powered and he ran for a team (possibly his own) called Becsport.

Peter

[Tim Wilkinson]

Thanks. The reason I ask is because I recall a tail-end car at the '89 August bank holiday round that ran in half-red / half-white livery. I'm trying to find out who it was, but no longer have the programme, or any other info.

However I've just bought the "Those were the days" book of Brands Hatch in the 80s, and on page 75 is a picture of Alcorn in '88 - in a half-red / half-white Reynard 883. I figured that the livery might not have changed when it changed hands, and so if I can find out who bought his car I will know my mystery driver.

[PMac]

Thanks. The reason I ask is because I recall a tail-end car at the '89 August bank holiday round that ran in half-red / half-white livery. I'm trying to find out who it was, but no longer have the programme, or any other info.

However I've just bought the "Those were the days" book of Brands Hatch in the 80s, and on page 75 is a picture of Alcorn in '88 - in a half-red / half-white Reynard 883. I figured that the livery might not have changed when it changed hands, and so if I can find out who bought his car I will know my mystery driver.

Hmmm, I was covering 'Class B' for Motoring News back then, so I should know. I'll scratch my head and come back to you.

Peter

[Gatmo]

I'll go for Allan Tulloch.

[Michael Ferner]

In 1989 Alcorn changed from one 893 to another 893, chassis '105' to '076' if I'm not mistaken. But anyway, the question was about his 1988 car, and therein lies the problem: he drove for two different teams, Middlebridge and Pacific! Unfortunately, I don't know the colours for either entry, and knowing where exactly at Brands the picture was taken will not help either: he drove both cars twice at Brands, each once on the Grand Prix and once on the Indy Circuit!

[Tim Wilkinson]

The narrative of the book indicates it was the first round on the GP circuit, in April, which Alcorn won after Donnelly, Lehto and Irvine tangled on the first lap.

[Michael Ferner]

Middlebridge it is, then.

[Steffe Ornerdal]

Brands Hatch GP Circuit, April 23, results here:

http://www.formula2.net/F389_GB4.htm