Formula 2 European Championship 1983

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Formula 2 European Championship 1983
European champion
Driver: United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
Season dates
Number of races: 12
<1982 season 1984 season>

The Formula 2 European Championship 1983 was the 17th and penultimate season of this 1967 established motorsport series . The championship consisted of twelve races held in Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy and Spain. The title was awarded to Jonathan Palmer , who as the top driver of Rold - factory teams won six races, including the last five in a row.

overview

politics

The discontinuation of Formula 2 has been discussed since the early 1980s. The costs of racing had increased significantly compared to the 1970s, which was due, among other things, to the entry of several works teams, which made considerable financial and organizational effort. On the other hand, FISA had an interest in continuing to use the DFV naturally aspirated engines from Cosworth , which were becoming increasingly obsolete in Formula 1 due to the success of the turbo engines, in races. This gave rise to the idea of Formula 3000 , which was to replace Formula 2. Initial plans envisaged that the Formula 2 European Championship should be held for the last time in 1983. Considerable resistance from the team owners led to Formula 2 being retained until 1984.

Regulations

There were technical changes compared to the previous year with regard to the body. The profiled sub-floors, with which a ground effect could be achieved, had been banned since the beginning of the season; the sub-floors now had to be smooth. Formula 2 followed a development that was also evident in Formula 1 . Aprons that could be used to seal the underbody from the side were now also prohibited.

The ground clearance had to be at least 4 cm. In 1982 this only applied to stationary cars; from 1983 the ground clearance also had to be maintained during the race on the track. Several manufacturers developed concepts to circumvent these requirements. AGS , Ralt and Maurer, for example, use double spring systems that lift the racing cars in the pit lane and lower them back on the track.

The regulations regarding the engines did not change. As before, naturally aspirated engines with a maximum displacement of 2.0 liters were permitted that did not have to be based on series engines.

Teams

15 teams with a total of 39 drivers took part in the 1983 European Championship. As in previous years, AGS, Ralt, Maurer and Minardi constructed their own racing cars and maintained works teams; in the case of AGS, the works team was reported as Écurie Armagnac Bigorre Nogaro , including the sponsor names .

The Italian Merzario team , which had purchased the slightly revised March 822 in the previous year , constructed their own models again for 1983. The M28 vehicles, however, were technically very much based on last year's March models.

The British manufacturer March Engineering disbanded its works team at the end of the 1982 season. From 1983 March supported the independent racing team Onyx Race Engineering , which was informally regarded as a quasi-works team or as a works-supported team.

After a five-year break, the French manufacturer Automobiles Martini returned to Formula 2 as a designer. Martini did not maintain a works team, but left the racing operations to the established Oreca team , which, however, received works support. With regard to the main sponsor, the team used the designation BMW France .

In addition to these factory or factory-supported teams, there were various pure customer teams, of which only a few competed in every race of the season. Regularly engaged teams included Emco Sports from Jo Gartner , the British racing team Mint Engineering , which had its roots in Formula 3 , and James Gresham Racing . Emco was the only customer team to score a win this year (Gartner in Pau); Gresham finished third, and Mint driver Dave Scott took pole position. All other podium positions, pole positions and fastest laps went to drivers of the works teams.

Spirit Racing , which had won three races in the past season with self-constructed cars, concentrated on Formula 1 in 1983 and no longer competed in Formula 2 at the factory. Jo Gartner's Emco team took over the cars; they were now equipped with BMW instead of the Honda engines.

Engines

The dominant powerplant was the Honda V6 engine, which was revised and prepared in Great Britain at Engine Developments ("Judd"). The engine was delivered exclusively to the Ralt factory team. BMW equipped most of the teams. The Onyx team, supported by March, received factory-prepared motors, which, based on their designer Paul Rosche , bore the additional designation "Rosche". 1983 was the last season in which BMW provided works engines. Other teams had the BMW engines serviced by independent tuners; mostly the Swiss company Heini Mader Racing Components took on this task, the Liechtenstein tuning company of Max Heidegger was also commissioned by individual teams . In one case, an older Hart engine also appeared . Ferrari engines, which had been used by Minardi the year before , were no longer used in 1983.

driver

Corrado Fabi , the European champion of the 1982 season , no longer competed in Formula 2 in 1983. He switched to Formula 1, where he made his debut at Osella . Johnny Cecotto , last year's runner-up, went to Toleman's Formula 1 team.

Jonathan Palmer stayed on the Ralt factory team, complemented by Mike Thackwell . Onyx took over Christian Danner , who had driven for the March factory team last year, and also signed Beppe Gabbiani , who was to be built up as the future champion. Maurer kept Stefan Bellof as a top driver; however, the team did not focus entirely on Bellof's missions. In 1983, Bellof only competed in seven championship races because he was driving factory sports car races for Porsche and there were repeated deadlines. Maurer and Bellof gave preference to sports car races in order to facilitate Bellof's promotion to Formula 1. Pierre Petit , Alain Ferté , Kenny Acheson and Frank Jelinski also drove for Maurer. As in the previous year, Alessandro Nannini was the preferred driver for Minardi .

With Beppe Gabbiani, Derek Daly , Lamberto Leoni , Patrick Nève and Mike Thackwell, five drivers who already had Formula 1 experience took part in the Formula 2 European Championship.

Teams and drivers

team chassis engine No. driver run
IrelandIreland Derek McMahon Racing March 822 Hard 0 IrelandIreland Derek Daly 8th
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Onyx Race Engineering March 832 BMW -Rosche 1 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani 1-12
2 GermanyGermany Christian Danner 1-12
3 BelgiumBelgium Thierry Tassin 1-6
BelgiumBelgium Patrick Nève 7th
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Dave Scott 8-12
GermanyGermany Maurer Motorsport Mason MM83 BMW - Heidegger 4th GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof 1-2, 4, 6-8, 10-11
5 FranceFrance Alain Ferté 1-8
GermanyGermany Frank Jelinski 11
6th FranceFrance Pierre Petit 1-11
17th United KingdomUnited Kingdom Kenny Acheson 1-8
FranceFrance Écurie Armagnac Bigorre Nogaro AGS JH19B BMW - Mader 7th FranceFrance Philippe Streiff 1-3, 5-12
36 ItalyItaly Fulvio Ballabio 5-12
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt Racing Ltd. Ralt RH6 Honda 8th United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer 1-12
9 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell 1-12
ItalyItaly Minardi team Minardi M283 BMW - Mader 10 ItalyItaly Alessandro Nannini 2-12
11 ArgentinaArgentina Oscar Larrauri 1-3, 12
SpainSpain Emilio de Villota 7th
ItalyItaly Pierluigi Martini 9
ItalyItaly Enzo Coloni 10
ItalyItaly Paolo Barilla 11
35 ItalyItaly Aldo Bertuzzi 12
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Swiss automobile racing March 832 BMW - Mader 12 ItalyItaly Lamberto Leoni 1
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Rolf Biland 6-7, 11
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Beat Jans 8th
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Fredy Lienhard 9-10
14th SwitzerlandSwitzerland Rolf Biland 3-4
GermanyGermany Bertram Schäfer Racing Mason MM82 BMW - Mader 15th SwedenSweden Tomas Kaiser 1-6, 8, 11
16 GermanyGermany Frank Jelinski 1-2, 4
GermanyGermany Bartl Stadler 3
ItalyItaly Sanremo Racing Lola T850 BMW - Heidegger 18th ItalyItaly Guido Daccò 4-6
March 832 8-12
ItalyItaly Aldo Bertuzzi 7th
Minardi M283 19th ItalyItaly Aldo Bertuzzi 3
Toleman TG280 4th
March 832 5-6, 8-11
ItalyItaly Guido Daccò 7th
ItalyItaly Merzario team Merzario M28 BMW - Mader 20th ItalyItaly Guido Daccò 1-3
FranceFrance Richard Dallest 4-7, 9, 10, 12
21st ItalyItaly Fulvio Ballabio 1-4
AustriaAustria EMCO Sports Spirit 201 BMW - Heidegger 24 AustriaAustria Jo Gartner 1-12
25th AustriaAustria Pierre Chauvet 1-3, 5-9, 11-12
FranceFrance BMW France Martini 001 BMW - Mader 26th FranceFrance Philippe Alliot 1-4, 6-12
35 FranceFrance Michel Ferté 6-10
BelgiumBelgium Didier Theys 11
United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing March 832 BMW - Mader 27 ArgentinaArgentina Enrique Mansilla 1-2, 4-5, 7-12
28 SpainSpain Emilio de Villota 1
ItalyItaly Lamberto Leoni 2-6
ItalyItaly Roberto Del Castello 8, 11-12
29 JapanJapan Kazuyoshi Hoshino 8th
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mint engineering March 832 BMW - Mader 33 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Dave Scott 1-7
34 ItalyItaly Roberto Del Castello 1-3, 5-7, 9-10
GermanyGermany Peter Stürtz March 802 BMW 35 GermanyGermany Peter Stürtz 3

Racing calendar

No. date Race
(track)
Distance
(km)
winner Second Third Pole
position
Fastest
race lap
Overall leading driver
01 March, 20th BRDC International Trophy
( Silverstone )
221.746 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
GermanyGermany Christian Danner
( onyx )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Dave Scott
( Mint Engineering )
GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof
( bricklayer )
ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
02 4. April British Automobile Drivers Club "200"
( Silverstone )
197.98 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
03 10th of April Germany Trophy
( Hockenheim )
203.7 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
GermanyGermany Christian Danner
( onyx )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
ItalyItaly Lamberto Leoni
( James Gresham Racing )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
04th April 24th Eifel race
( Nürburgring-Nordschleife )
187.47 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
ItalyItaly Alessandro Nannini
( Minardi )
GermanyGermany Christian Danner
( onyx )
GermanyGermany Christian Danner
( onyx )
GermanyGermany Christian Danner
( onyx )
05 8th of May Gran Premio di Roma
( Vallelunga )
208 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani
( Onyx )
06th May 22 Grand Prix de Pau
( Pau )
220.290 AustriaAustria Jo Gartner
( Emco Sports )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Kenny Acheson
( bricklayer )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof
( bricklayer )
GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof
( bricklayer )
07th June 12 Gran Premio de Madrid
Circuito del Jarama
221 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof
( bricklayer )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
08th 25th June Donington "50,000"
( Donington )
220.5 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
FranceFrance Philippe Streiff
( AGS )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
09 22nd of July Gran Premio dell'Adriatico
( Misano )
202.246 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
ItalyItaly Pierluigi Martini
( Minardi )
ItalyItaly Roberto Del Castello
( James Gresham Racing )
FranceFrance Philippe Alliot
( BMW France )
FranceFrance Philippe Alliot
( BMW France )
010 July 31 Gran Premio del Mediterraneo
( Enna-Pergusa )
222.750 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
FranceFrance Philippe Streiff
( AGS )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
ItalyItaly Alessandro Nannini
( Minardi )
011 August 21 Grote Prijs van Limborg
( Zolder )
195.96 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
FranceFrance Philippe Streiff
( AGS )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
( Ralt )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
012 September 4th Gran Premio del Mugello
( Mugello )
220.290 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell
( Ralt )
FranceFrance Philippe Streiff
( AGS )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer
( Ralt )

Race reports

The course of the 1983 season was divided into two parts. In the first half the Onyx team, supported by March, dominated, whose driver Beppe Gabbiani won four of the first five races. Gabbiani was assisted by former racing driver Peter Gethin , who worked as a consultant for Onyx. Onyx, however, was unable to maintain dominance throughout the season. One of the main reasons for the slowdown in performance was the March 832's twisting ability , which neither the team nor the manufacturer were able to eliminate at short notice. Instead of constructing a more solid monocoque, March limited himself to installing additional plastic stiffeners at individual points. The Ralt RH6 of the Ralt factory team was far more resilient than the March; In addition, the Honda engine had about 30 hp more power. While Gabbiani could only score once after the fifth race of the season in Vallelunga, a winning streak began in early summer for Ralt works driver Jonathan Palmer , who, starting with the Donington 50,000 at the end of June 1983, won all the remaining races of the season.

BRDC International Trophy

space driver team time
1 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1: 08: 30.71
2 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 08: 57.31
3 GermanyGermany Christian Danner United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1: 09: 40.25
PP United KingdomUnited Kingdom Dave Scott United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mint engineering 1: 16.95
SR GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 19.93

The 35th BRDC International Trophy was the season opener. It took place on March 20th at the Silverstone Circuit . The race went over 47 laps of 4.718 km each and had a total distance of 221.46 km. 12 teams with 23 drivers registered for the race. Pole position was achieved by Dave Scott in the private march from Mint Engineering . He was one of only three drivers who deviated from the flooded racing line in heavy rain in Stowe Corner and thus came safely around the corner. The race, which took place in dry conditions, was won by Beppe Gabbiani in Onyx - March 832 ; his team-mate Christian Danner was third, more than a minute behind. Mike Thackwell came in second in the works Ralt .

BARC "200"

space driver team time
1 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1: 03: 54.06
2 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 01: 01.91
3 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 04: 08.57
PP New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 05.68
SR New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 07.38

The 12th BARC "200" (200-kilometer race of the British Automobile Racing Club ), also known as the Jochen Rindt Memorial Race , took place on April 4th at the Thruxton Circuit in Andover . It went over 55 laps of 3.792 km each and had a total distance of 197.98 km. A total of eleven teams with 23 drivers started. The Minardi team, which had skipped the first race of the season, was one of the registered teams . Mike Thackwell ( Ralt ) drove out of the polo position and completed the fastest race lap. The winner was Beppe Gabbiani in Onyx - March 832 , followed by Thackwell and his team mate Jonathan Palmer .

Germany trophy

space driver team time
1 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 02: 25.22
2 GermanyGermany Christian Danner United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1: 02: 47.52
3 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 03: 15.02
PP ItalyItaly Lamberto Leoni United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing 2: 14.43
SR United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 2: 03.76

The 17th Germany Trophy , also known as the Jim Clark Memorial Race, took place on April 10th at the Hockenheimring . The race went over 30 laps of 6.790 km each and had a total distance of 203.7 km. 15 teams with 22 drivers turned up for the race. Stefan Bellof did not compete in his home race. That being said, there have been some changes regarding national drivers. Bartl Stadler drove for Bertram Schäfer Racing instead of Frank Jelinski , and Peter Stürtz reported an older March for his own team. There was also a message for Jan Thoelke who wanted to use a two-year-old Toleman ; Thoelke did not show up for the race. Lamberto Leoni took pole position for the private team James Gresham Racing . Jonathan Palmer ( Ralt ) won the race ahead of Christian Danner (Onyx) and Mike Thackwell (Ralt).

International ADAC Eifel race

space driver team time
1 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 58: 46.44
2 ItalyItaly Alessandro Nannini ItalyItaly Minardi 58: 53.51
3 GermanyGermany Christian Danner United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 58: 58.26
PP GermanyGermany Christian Danner United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 6: 26.19
SR GermanyGermany Christian Danner United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 6: 28.03

The 46th International ADAC Eifel Race took place on April 24th on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring . It went over 9 laps of 20.830 km each and had a total distance of 187.47 km. Eleven teams with 20 drivers were registered. The southern French team Armagnac Bigorre (AGS) did not appear, Minardi only competed with one car. Christian Danner ( Onyx ) started from pole position and drove the fastest race lap. At the beginning of the race, however, he was overtaken by his team-mate Beppe Gabbiani and later by Alessandro Nannini (Minardi). Gabbiani won the race ahead of Nannini and Danner.

Gran Premio di Roma

space driver team time
1 ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom Onyx Race Engineering 1: 14: 59.60
2 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 15: 09.85
3 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 15: 28.87
PP ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1: 06.16
SR ItalyItaly Beppe Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1: 08.14

The 35th Gran Premio di Roma took place on May 8th at the Autodromo Vallelunga . He went over 65 laps of 3.2 km each and had a total distance of 208 km. 11 teams with a total of 20 drivers competed for the race. Stefan Bellof ( bricklayer ) skipped the race. The financially troubled team Merzario only appeared with one car instead of three as before. The previous Merzario driver Guido Daccò switched to Sanremo Racing for the rest of the season , Fulvio Ballabio went from Merzario to Armagnac Bigorre (AGS) .

Beppe Gabbiani ( Onyx ) was the dominant driver for the last time this season. He took pole position, set the fastest race lap and won the race. Ralt drivers Jonathan Palmer and Mike Thackwell crossed the finish line in second and third place .

Grand Prix de Pau

space driver team time
1 AustriaAustria Jo Gartner AustriaAustria Emco Sports 1: 45: 18.65
2 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Kenny Acheson GermanyGermany Bricklayer 1: 45: 44.56
3 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 46: 12.61
PP GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof GermanyGermany Bricklayer 1: 11.87
SR GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof GermanyGermany Bricklayer 1: 13.12

The 43rd Grand Prix de Pau took place on May 22nd at the Circuit de Pau . He went over 73 laps of 2.834 km each and had a total distance of 206.882 km. 14 teams with a total of 24 drivers were registered, 20 of them were allowed to race. The two Mint drivers Dave Scott and Roberto Del Castello as well as Aldo Bertuzzi ( Sanremo Racing ) and Michel Ferté ( BMW France ) failed to qualify . Pole position was taken by Stefan Bellof ( Maurer Motorsport ), who also set the fastest race lap. The Maurer driver Alain Ferté crossed the finish line first, Jo Gartner in the spirit of the Austrian team Emco Sports was second , followed by Bellof. The gap between the first and the third was 12 seconds. After the race ended, however, Ferté and Bellof were disqualified because their cars did not reach the required minimum weight. The winner was then Jo Gartner. It was the last victory in the Formula 2 European Championship that was not achieved by a driver from a works team. Kenny Acheson (Maurer) was ranked second, Jonathan Palmer ( Ralt ) third .

Gran Premio de Madrid

space driver team time
1 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 28: 50.80
2 GermanyGermany Stefan Bellof GermanyGermany Bricklayer 1: 28: 53.16
3 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 29: 06.29
PP United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 16.79
SR New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 10.02

The 5th Gran Premio de Madrid took place on June 12, 1983 at the Circuito del Jarama . He went over 65 laps of 3.4 km each and had a total distance of 221 km. 12 teams with 23 drivers registered for the race. All were qualified. Pole position was achieved by Jonathan Palmer ( Ralt ). His team mate Mike Thackwell completed the fastest race lap and won the championship run ahead of Stefan Bellof ( Maurer ), who crossed the finish line two and a half seconds after him, and Palmer.

Donington "50,000"

space driver team time
1 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 16: 39.02
2 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell GermanyGermany Bricklayer 1: 16: 59.30
3 FranceFrance Philippe Streiff United KingdomUnited Kingdom AGS 1: 17: 18.12
PP United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 00.93
SR New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 04.69

The 5th Donington "50,000" race took place on June 25th on the Donington Park track . It went over 70 laps of 3.150 km each and had a total distance of 220.5 km. 12 teams with 24 drivers competed in the race. There were some changes in the starting field compared to the previous race. The Italian team Merzario did not appear at all. The Irish team Derek McMahon Racing , which started Derek Daly , who already had Formula 1 experience, registered for this race only . Dave Scott left the private team Mint Engineering and joined Onyx here and for the rest of the season as the fourth driver ; Roberto Del Castello , the second Mint driver, moved to James Gresham Racing . Kazuyoshi Hoshino , runner-up in the Japanese Formula 2 Championship last year , drove his only European Formula 2 race there. The Donington race was dominated by the drivers of the Ralt factory team: Jonathan Palmer took pole position and won; his team-mate Mike Thackwell drove the fastest race lap and finished second, 19 seconds behind Palmer. Philippe Streiff came third in the AGS . Hoshino finished fourth and Scott sixth in his debut race for Onyx.

With the victory in this race Palmer took over the overall leadership of the championship, which he did not give up again until the end of the season.

Gran Premio dell'Adriatico

space driver team time
1 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 09: 37.74
2 ItalyItaly Alessandro Nannini ItalyItaly Minardi 1: 10: 41.61
3 ItalyItaly Roberto Del Castello United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mint engineering 1: 10: 50.60
PP FranceFrance Philippe Alliot FranceFrance BMW France 1: 09.21
SR FranceFrance Philippe Alliot FranceFrance BMW France 1: 10.95

The 7th Gran Premio dell'Adriatico took place on July 24th at the Autodromo Santamonica in Misano Adriatico . He went over 58 laps of 3.487 km each and had a total distance of 202.246 km. 11 teams with 21 drivers were registered for the race. The German team Maurer Motorsport reported Stefan Bellof and Pierre Petit . Both drivers were banned from participating in the race after training. The reason was the suspicion that the masonry cars were using illegal underbody panels. In the course of the inspection of his car, Bellof was temporarily arrested at the instigation of the race director, who felt threatened by Bellof.

Pole position and the fastest lap was achieved by Philippe Alliot in the BMW France team's Martini . In the race, Alliot retired after 20 laps due to suspension damage. The victory went to Jonathan Palmer in the works Ralt , followed by Alessandro Nannini in the Minardi , who achieved the best result of his team here this year. The third place Roberto Del Castello in the private March 832 by James Gresham Racing . In total, only seven drivers came to the finish. The last driver ranked was Richard Dallest in the Merzario .

Gran Premio del Mediterraneo

space driver team time
1 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 10: 11.30
2 FranceFrance Philippe Streiff FranceFrance GPA Motul Nogaro 1: 10: 18.07
3 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 10: 24.63
PP New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell FranceFrance Ralt 1: 30.82
SR ItalyItaly Alessandro Nannini ItalyItaly Minardi 1: 31.37

The 21st Gran Premio del Mediterraneo took place on July 31st at the Autodromo di Pergusa in Enna , Sicily . He went over 45 laps of 4.950 km each and had a total distance of 222.75 km. 11 teams with 20 drivers were registered for the race. The starting field largely corresponded to that of the previous races. An exception was the Minardi team, which brought Enzo Coloni , last year's Italian Formula 3 champion , to the start. Mike Thackwell ( Ralt ) took pole position and his team-mate Jonathan Palmer won the race. The fastest lap of the race was driven by Alessandro Nannini (Minardi), who retired after 41 laps due to an accident. Second was Philippe Streiff ( AGS ), who achieved the best result for himself and his team.

After this race, the private team Mint Engineering ceased operations.

Great Prijs van Limborg

space driver team time
1 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 06: 12.03
2 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 06: 22.86
3 FranceFrance Philippe Streiff FranceFrance AGS 1: 06: 55.98
PP United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer FranceFrance Ralt 1: 24.09
SR United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer FranceFrance Ralt 1: 25.09

The 20th Grote Prijs van Limborg took place on August 21st at Circuit Zolder . It was the last Formula 2 race in Belgium . A total of 11 teams with 22 drivers were at the start. Paolo Barilla completed his first monoposto race here at Minardi , while Stefan Bellof contested his last Formula 2 race. The same applied to his Maurer Motorsport team , which was dissolved after this event.

The race was originally supposed to have a distance of 204.48 km (48 laps of 4.26 km each). After there was a serious collision between Guido Daccò ( Sanremo Racing ) and Dave Scott ( Onyx ) on the first lap of the race, the race was initially canceled. After the restart, it was held over 46 laps and had a total distance of 195.96 km. After the restart, Jonathan Palmer ( Ralt ) dominated the race, starting from pole position, setting the fastest lap and finishing first.

Gran Premio del Mugello

space driver team time
1 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 14: 58.38
2 New ZealandNew Zealand Mike Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 1: 14: 58.70
3 FranceFrance Philippe Streiff FranceFrance AGS 1:16:06.00
PP United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer FranceFrance Ralt 1: 40.73
SR United KingdomUnited Kingdom Jonathan Palmer FranceFrance Ralt 1: 45.69

The 10th Gran Premio del Mugello was the last race of the season. It took place on September 4th at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello . The race went over 42 laps of 5.245 km each and had a total distance of 220.29 km. Nine teams with 15 drivers were at the start. Roberto Del Castello ( James Gresham Racing ) and Aldo Bertuzzi ( Minardi ) were registered, but did not compete for the race. Jonathan Palmer ( Ralt ) took pole position, set the fastest race lap and won; his team-mate Mike Thackwell crossed the finish line in second place, three tenths of a second behind.

Driver ranking

The awarding of points was based on the following scheme:

Distribution of points
space 1 2 3 4th 5 6th
Points 9 6th 4th 3 2 1

Only the best nine results were evaluated (so-called deletion results). Then the following driving ranking resulted at the end of the season:

Item driver team Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of France.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of Italy.svg Points
01 United KingdomUnited Kingdom J. Palmer United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt DNF 3 1 4th 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 68 (74)
02 New ZealandNew Zealand M. Thackwell United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ralt 2 2 3 7th 3 8th 1 2 DNF 3 2 2 51
03 ItalyItaly B. Gabbiani United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 1 1 DNF 1 1 DNF 7th DNF DNF 4th DNF 9 39
04th FranceFrance P. Streiff FranceFrance AGS 5 8th DNF 5 10 4th 3 DNF 2 3 3 25th
05 GermanyGermany C. Danner United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 3 13 2 3 10 5 9 5 DNF 7th 4th 10 21st
06th AustriaAustria J. Gartner AustriaAustria Emco Sports DNF DNF 4th DNF DNF 1 17th DNF DNF 5 DNF 7th 14th
07th ItalyItaly A. Nannini ItalyItaly Minardi 9 5 2 7th DNF DNF DNF DNF 11 DNF 4th 11
08th BelgiumBelgium T. Tassin United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx DNF 4th 6th 6th 4th 4th 11
09 GermanyGermany S. Bellof GermanyGermany Bricklayer 4th DNF DNS DNF DSQ 2 7th DNS DNF 7th 9
010 United KingdomUnited Kingdom K. Acheson GermanyGermany Bricklayer DNF 10 10 9 11 2 DNF 8th 6th
010 ItalyItaly P. Martini ItalyItaly Minardi 2 6th
012 ItalyItaly R. Del Castello United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mint engineering DNF DNF DNF DNS DNQ 11 3 13 4th
United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing 11 10 DNS 0
013 ItalyItaly G. Daccò ItalyItaly Merzario DNF DNF 15th 0
ItalyItaly Sanremo Racing DNF 6th DNF DNF DNF 4th DNF DNF DNF 4th
014th FranceFrance A. Ferté GermanyGermany Bricklayer DNF 14th 12 5 14th DSQ 5 DNF 4th
014th FranceFrance P. Alliot FranceFrance BMW France DNF 5 8th DNF DNF DNF DNF 12 5 DNF 4th
016 JapanJapan K. Hoshino United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing 4th 3
017th United KingdomUnited Kingdom D. Scott United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mint engineering DNF DNF DNS 11 DNF DNQ 16 0
United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 6th DNF DNF DNF 5 3
017th ItalyItaly F. Ballabio ItalyItaly Team Merzario DNF DNF 14th DNF 0
FranceFrance AGS DNF 7th 12 DNF 5 9 NC 6th 3
019th ArgentinaArgentina E. Mansilla United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing DNF 7th DNS DNF 6th 10 DNF DNF 6th DNF 2
020th ItalyItaly L. Leoni SwitzerlandSwitzerland Swiss automobile racing 6th 1
United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing 11 7th DNF 9 DNF 0
020th GermanyGermany F. Jelinski GermanyGermany Bertram Schäfer Racing DNF 6th 8th 1
GermanyGermany Bricklayer DNF 0
020th SwitzerlandSwitzerland R. Biland SwitzerlandSwitzerland Swiss automobile racing 9 12 6th 10 11 1
020th SwitzerlandSwitzerland F. Lienhard SwitzerlandSwitzerland Swiss automobile racing 6th 10 1
020th FranceFrance M. Ferté FranceFrance BMW France DNQ 12 DNF 6th 1
ItalyItaly P. Barilla ItalyItaly Minardi DNF 0
ItalyItaly A. Bertuzzi ItalyItaly Sanremo Racing 13 13 13 DNQ 15th DNF DNF DNS 13 0
ItalyItaly Minardi DNS 0
AustriaAustria P. Chauvet AustriaAustria Emco Sports DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF 13 DNF 12 DNF 8th 0
ItalyItaly E. Coloni ItalyItaly Minardi 8th 0
FranceFrance R. Dallest ItalyItaly Merzario DNF DNF DNF 8th 7th DNF 8th 0
IrelandIreland D. Daly IrelandIreland Derek McMahon Racing 9 0
SwitzerlandSwitzerland B. Jans SwitzerlandSwitzerland Swiss automobile racing DNF 0
SwedenSweden T. Kaiser GermanyGermany Bertram Schäfer Racing DNF DNF DNF DNF 8th 9 DNF DNF 0
ArgentinaArgentina O. Larrauri ItalyItaly Minardi 7th DNF DNS DNF 0
BelgiumBelgium P. Nève United KingdomUnited Kingdom onyx 14th 0
FranceFrance P. Petit GermanyGermany Bricklayer 8th 12 DNF 10 12 DNF DNF DNF DNS DNF 8th 0
GermanyGermany B. Stadler GermanyGermany Bertram Schäfer Racing 11 0
GermanyGermany P. Stürtz GermanyGermany Peter Stürtz DNF 0
BelgiumBelgium D. Theys FranceFrance BMW France 9 0
SpainSpain E. de Villota ItalyItaly Minardi 9 0
United KingdomUnited Kingdom James Gresham Racing 8th 0

literature

  • David Hodges: Racing Cars from A – Z after 1945, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-613-01477-7
  • Mike Lawrence: March, The Rise and Fall of a Motor Racing Legend , MRP, Orpington 2001, ISBN 1-899870-54-7
  • Eberhard Reuß, Ferdi Kräling: Formula 2. The story from 1964 to 1984 , Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2014, ISBN 978-3-7688-3865-8 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b Eberhard Reuß, Ferdi Kräling: Formula 2. The story from 1964 to 1984 , Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2014, ISBN 978-3-7688-3865-8 , p. 192.
  2. ^ David Hodges: Rennwagen from A – Z after 1945, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-613-01477-7 , p. 273.
  3. Eberhard Reuß, Ferdi Kräling: Formula 2. The story from 1964 to 1984 , Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2014, ISBN 978-3-7688-3865-8 , p. 193.
  4. a b c Mike Lawrence: March, The Rise and Fall of a Motor Racing Legend , MRP, Orpington 2001, ISBN 1-899870-54-7 , p. 165.
  5. ^ David Hodges: Rennwagen from A – Z after 1945 , Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-613-01477-7 , p. 166.
  6. a b Eberhard Reuß, Ferdi Kräling: Formula 2. The story from 1964 to 1984 , Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2014, ISBN 978-3-7688-3865-8 , p. 191.