1979 Vandervell British F3 Championship

Brazilian rising star Francisco “Chico” Serra, below left, has taken this season’s British Formula Three Championship, after winning five of the series in twenty rounds in his Project Four-run March 793 Toyota. The driver who came closest to upsetting the Brazilian’s dominance was the erratic Italian Andrea de Cesar’s, left, who scored six fine victories in his Howden Ganley and Tim Schenker run March 793, but somewhat marred his record with a series of controversial contretemps. The revelation of the year, however, was Australian Mike Thackwell, below right, who became increasingly impressive as he gained experience, justifying financial help from Williams F1 team leader Alan Jones with five very convincing victories, as well as venturing abroad to score a win in the prestigious Monza Lottery. Above, another promising name, Irishman Kenny Acheson, heads the pack at the televised Thruxton meeting, chased by Thackwell and Brett Riley in the inconsistent Triumph-powered March.