The 1978 British Formula One Championship (formally the 1978 Aurora AFX F1 Championship) was the first season of the British Formula One Championship. It commenced on 24 March 1978 and ended on 24 September after twelve races.[1]

The Aurora AFX F1 Championship replaced the Shellsport Group 8 series that had been run in 1976 and 1977 to Formula Libre rules. As part of the changes, Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic cars were no longer eligible to race in the Aurora AFX championship. Formula 1 cars were now the focus of the series, with Formula 2 cars still being permitted as a 'B-class'.[2]

Teams and drivers

Entry List[3]
TeamNo.DriverChassisEngineRounds
Formula 1
Melchester Racing1Tony TrimmerMcLaren M23Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V81–5, 7, 9–10, 12
Divina Galica11
Team March3Bruce AllisonMarch 75A/761Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V84-8
4Guy Edwards1-2
3Bruce AllisonMarch 7819-12
4Guy Edwards3-12
21Geoff Lees7
Centro Asegurador F15Emilio de VillotaMcLaren M25Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V81–6, 10-12
McLaren M238-9
Valentino Musetti7Valentino MusettiMarch 752/761Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V81-9
Mario Deliotti Racing7Valentino MusettiEnsign N177Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V810-12
9Geoff LeesEnsign N1751-4
Bruce Allison2
Giancarlo Martini5-6
Ray Mallock7
Desiré Wilson8-12
Alo Lawler10Alo LawlerSurtees TS19Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V81-3
Stanley BRM11Teddy PiletteBRM P207BRM P202 3.0 V121–4, 7-12
Team Olympus13Divina GalicaSurtees TS19Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V85
J. C. Cooper14Bob EvansSurtees TS19Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V85-6
Hesketh 308E7-12
17John CooperHesketh 308C1-8
Hesketh 308E9, 11-12
Geoff Lees10
Dennis Leech16Dennis LeechMarch 761Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V811
Jörg Zaborowski19Jörg ZaborowskiMarch 761Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V83
BS Fabrications30Brett LungerMcLaren M26Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V85
Theodore Racing32David KennedyWolf WR3Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V812
Gerd Biechteler65Gerd BiechtelerMarch 761Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V84, 6
Formula 2
Graham Eden Racing6Mike WildsRalt RT1Ford BDG 2.0 L4All
Mario Deliotti Racing9Geoff LeesChevron B42Hart 420R 2.0 L411
L & B Excavations10Alo LawlerRalt RT1Hart 420R 2.0 L46, 8, 11
Stephen South12Stephen SouthMarch 782Hart 420R 2.0 L410-11
Kim Mather15Kim MatherChevron B35DFord BDG 2.0 L41–9, 12
Fred Opert Racing16Boy HayjeChevron B42Hart 420R 2.0 L45
Chevron Cars16Elio de AngelisChevron B42Hart 420R 2.0 L410
MacLaren's of Broxburn18Iain McLarenChevron B35Ford BDX 2.0 L41, 4
Chevron B40Hart 420R 2.0 L49
Adrian Russell20Adrian RussellMarch 762Ford BDX 2.0 L41-11
Boxer Cars22Norman DicksonBoxer PR276Hart 420R 2.0 L43, 5
Geoff Brabham6
Emilio de Villota7
Andy Barton23Andy BartonBarton JTB3Ford BDX 2.0 L44
March 77B/772PFord BDG 2.0 L49
Warren Booth29Warren BoothScott F2Ford BDX 2.0 L41, 6, 8
Nigel Clarkson30Nigel ClarksonMarch 742Ford BDX 2.0 L41–2, 12
Alan Baillie38Alan BaillieMarch 752Ford BDX Swindon 2.0 L41, 4, 6–7, 11-12
Ray Mallock9
Kevin Bowditch41Kevin BowditchLola T460Ford 2.0 L46-7
Carlo Giorgio42Carlo GiorgioMarch 742Hart 420R 2.0 L42, 5
Dr. Joseph Ehrlich43Brett RileyMarch 762Hart 420R 2.0 L49-10
Dicksons of Perth47Norman DicksonMarch 772PHart 420R 2.0 L410-11
Eugen Grupp64Eugen GruppToj F202BMW M12 2.0 L49
Osterreich ASC65Gerd BiechtelerMarch 782BMW M12 2.0 L49
Briggs Racing Enterprises71John David BriggsChevron B42Hart 420R 2.0 L410-11
77Don Breidenbach10-11
Walter Raus78Walter RausMarch 762BMW M12 2.0 L42
Smith and Jones90Richard JonesMarch 742Ford BDG 2.0 L410-12
Bill Wood?Bill WoodMarch 742Ford 2.0 L45

Results and standings

Races

RndTrackDateLapsPole positionFastest lapRace winnerConstructor
1Oulton Park24 March65Tony TrimmerTony TrimmerTony TrimmerMcLaren
2Brands Hatch27 March40Guy EdwardsGeoff LeesTony TrimmerMcLaren
3Snetterton16 April55Tony TrimmerTony TrimmerTony TrimmerMcLaren
4Mallory Park1 May75Tony TrimmerEmilio de VillotaGeoff LeesEnsign
5Zandvoort15 May38Brett LungerBrett LungerBob EvansSurtees
6Donington Park21 May55Giancarlo MartiniGiancarlo MartiniGiancarlo MartiniEnsign
7Thruxton29 May50Guy EdwardsGeoff LeesTony TrimmerMcLaren
8Oulton Park24 June65Emilio de VillotaTeddy PiletteGuy EdwardsMarch
9Mallory Park30 July75Tony TrimmerEmilio de VillotaBruce AllisonMarch
10Brands Hatch28 August40Stephen SouthEmilio de VillotaTony TrimmerMcLaren
11Thruxton10 September45Emilio de VillotaGeoff LeesGuy EdwardsMarch
12Snetterton24 September50Emilio de VillotaDavid KennedyDavid KennedyWolf

Drivers' standings

Points are awarded to the top ten classified finishers using the following structure:

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  FL 
Points201512108643212
Pos.DriverOUL
BRH
SNE
MAL
ZAN
DON
THR
OUL
MAL
BRH
THR
SNE
Pts
1Tony Trimmer1112DNS1212149
2Bob Evans1325722793
3Emilio de Villota2324Ret57Ret4Ret8886
4Guy EdwardsRet4Ret10Ret2Ret13DNS1Ret78
5Geoff LeesRet231Ret5569
6Bruce AllisonDNS6RetRet421Ret12363
7Valentino MusettiNCNCRet37453Ret64DNS62
8John Cooper38Ret88787910444
9Mike WildsRet6Ret76DNS668713543
10Desiré WilsonRet643634
11Giancarlo Martini4132
12David Kennedy122
13Teddy PiletteRet5RetRetRet4RetRetRetRet20
14Divina Galica2719
15Kim Mather4RetNC5NCRetDNSNCRetRet18
16Boy Hayje312
=[1]Ray Mallock31212
=[1]Elio de Angelis312
19Iain McLaren591011
=[1]Adrian RussellDNQ10NC139898NCRetRet11
21Brett Lunger510
22Brett Riley5Ret8
23Don Breidenbach1067
24Geoff Brabham66
25Walter Raus74
26John David Briggs8173
27Stephen SouthRet92
=[1]Warren BoothNC9Ret2
=[1]Carlo Giorgio9Ret2
=[1]Richard Jones911Ret2
—Andy Barton12110
—Gerd Biechteler11DNS130
—Alan BaillieDNQ14NCNC15DNS0
—Norman DicksonDNSRetDNS140
—Dennis Leech160
—Alo LawlerRetRetDNSRetRetRet0
—Bill WoodRet0
—Kevin BowditchDNQDNS0
—Nigel ClarksonDNQDNQDNQ0
—Jörg ZaborowskiDNQ0
—Eugen GruppDNQ0
Pos.DriverOUL
BRH
SNE
MAL
ZAN
DON
THR
OUL
MAL
BRH
THR
SNE
Pts
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

References

  1. ^ "1978 AURORA AFX BRITISH F1 CHAMPIONSHIP". motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "8W - Who? - Marcus Pye". www.forix.com. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Formula 1 - 3-litre Formula 1 (1966 - 1985)". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved July 17, 2018.