British Formula One Championship
The British Formula One Championship, often abbreviated to British F1, was a Formula One motor racing championship held in the United Kingdom. It was often referred to as the Aurora AFX Formula One series due to the Aurora company's sponsorship of the series for three of the four seasons. The long established Cosworth DFV engine helped make the series possible between 1978 and 1980. As in the South African Formula One Championship a decade or so before, second hand cars from manufacturers like Lotus and Fittipaldi Automotive were run by many entrants, although some, such as the March 781, were built specifically for the series. In 1980 Desiré Wilson became the only woman to win a Formula One race. She won at Brands Hatch driving a Wolf.
| Category | Single-seaters |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Inaugural season | 1978 |
| Folded | 1982 |
| Drivers | 10 (1982) |
| Teams | 8 (1982) |
| Constructors | 8 (1982) |
| Engine suppliers | 2 (1982) |
| Last Drivers' champion |  Jim Crawford |
The British Formula One Championship, often abbreviated to British F1, was a Formula One motor racing championship held in the United Kingdom. It was often referred to as the Aurora AFX Formula One series due to the Aurora company's sponsorship of the series for three of the four seasons.
The long established Cosworth DFV engine helped make the series possible between 1978 and 1980. As in the South African Formula One Championship a decade or so before, second hand cars from manufacturers like Lotus and Fittipaldi Automotive were run by many entrants, although some, such as the March 781, were built specifically for the series. In 1980 Desiré Wilson became the only woman to win a Formula One race. She won at Brands Hatch driving a Wolf.
Origins
[edit]The British Formula One Championship was a successor to the older Group 8 Shellsport Championship,[1] which had previously run Formula 5000 cars. In 1977 the series was opened up to allow Formula One cars to race and the BRSCC upgraded it to a full Formula One championship a year later.[1] Formula Two cars were also present on the grid to make up the numbers.[1]
Champions
[edit]| Season | Championship Name | Champion | Car | Races† | Pole Positions |
Wins | Podiums | Fastest Laps |
Points | Margin (pts) |
Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Aurora AFX British F1 Championship | Tony Trimmer
|
McLaren M23-Cosworth | 8/12 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 149 | 56 | [2][3] |
| 1979 | Rupert Keegan
|
Arrows A1-Cosworth | 13/15 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 65 | 2 | [4][5] | |
| 1980 |  Emilio de Villota
|
Williams FW07-Cosworth | 12/12 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 85 | 33 | [6][7] | |
| 1981 | no championship | ||||||||||
| 1982 | British F1 Championship | Jim Crawford
|
Ensign N180-Cosworth | 4/5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 18 | [8] |
† x/y: Competed in x races of the season total y.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Who? – Guy Edwards". Forix 8W. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
- ^ "Aurora F1 – 1978". GEL Information. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "1978 Aurora AFX British F1 Championship". Motor Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Aurora F1 – 1979". GEL Information. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "1979 Aurora AFX British F1 Championship". Motor Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Aurora F1 – 1980". GEL Information. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "1980 Aurora AFX British F1 Championship". Motor Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "1982 British F1 Championship". Motor Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
External links
[edit]- GEL Motorsport Information Page: The Formula One Archives
- Quintin Cloud's Formula One Records: 1982 British Formula 1 Series
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