Formula Three Review

Thruxton (August 2nd)

Proof, if any were needed, that the Motor Sport/Shell Formula Three Championship attracts all the top talent was provided at the BARC’s Kodak 135 Trophy meeting on August 2nd when Formula 5000 was theoretically top of the bill. All the leading Championship contenders waived an opportunity of going to Sweden on the same day for the International race at Karlskoga and there was another excellent field for the short 12-lap race.

Thruxton is the type of circuit which permits closely-bunched groups of F3 cars to slipstream each other and it proved impossible for any one driver to scramble clear of the leading group. The early leaders were Bev Bond in his Gold Leaf Team Lotus 59A, Brazilian Wilson Fittipaldi in a similar car and Richard Scott in his Brahham. Mike Beuttler, winner of the last two rounds in the Clarke-Mordaunt Brabham, caught these three and then Scott disappeared when well placed with a gear selector broken.

Gold Leaf Team Lotus led for a few laps 1-2, Bond and Walker working well together, but there was an upset on the last lap when Beuttler, who had crept ahead in his bid for the lead, was gently touched by Walker immediately before the chicane and both spun. Bond was immediately through to win with Wilson Fittipaldi and Tony Trimmer hard on his heels. Beuttler was an annoyed fourth and Walker an anguished seventh, having handed his Championship lead to team-mate Bond.—M. G. D.