Historic 91 -- Historic Formula 3
Why Formula 3 ?
Nobody can deny that of all the international formulae throughout the years including Formula 1, the one which has produced the most excitement and closest racing has undoubtedly been Formula 3.
Every Club driver aspires to race Formula 3. Every Formula 1 driver must have been successful in Formula 3 before progressing further. Formula 3 is therefore the single most significant formula in the whole structure of motor sport.
For those drivers not aspiring to F1, or those who cannot afford the vast sums of money needed to compete in current Formula 3, the QED HISTORIC F3 Championship offers an opportunity to prepare and maintain historically interesting single-seater racing cars and indulge in competitive but friendly club driving in the truly international atmosphere that F3 brings to a meeting.
Whatever your reason, there is no doubt that you will enjoy taking part in 1600 Formula 3 — just ask anyone who already is!
What is 1600 F3 ?
The FISA regulations for International Formula 3 during the period 1.1.71 to 31.12.73 produced an exceptionally attractive and compact single-seater powered by a production-based 1600cc engine fitted with an air restrictor.
The chassis were a mixture of “state-ofthe-art” spaceframes and early monocoques with a maximum 8″ front and 10″ rear rims. Early development aerodynamic ‘wings’ were used. Compared to today’s racing cars, they were very simple and easy to work on, but at the same time retaining all the up-market constructional detail typical of all eras of Formula 3. Successful marques of the era included Brabham, Ensign, GRD, March and Lotus.
Almost universal use was made of the Lotus twin-cam engine which produces about 120 bhp in restricted F3 form. Engines from Alfa, BMW and Renault were used, but their numbers were small.
The Formula produced World Champions James Hunt and Alan Jones and demonstrated the sadly unfulfilled talents of Tony Brise, Tom Pryce and Roger Williamson.
1600 F3 was reintroduced as a national Championship for the 1987 season. It is regulated by the Historic Formula 3 Association under the auspices of the BARC and numbers now registered for the 1991 Championship are approaching 30. Exceptional paddock interest has been a prominent feature and certainly adds immeasurably to the pride of ownership generated by these elegant single-seaters.
The committee of the Historic Formula 3 Association has been dedicated to practical methods of keeping costs down. Hence the use of a control tyre. The engines are not only affordable on initial purchase, but last a full season between rebuilds due to restrictions on power output and rev range.
The regulations are strictly enforced in order to stamp out cheating which is, unfortunately, the bane of so many inadequately controlled amateur formulae.
Who Are QED ?
The name QED has over the years become synonymous with the Lotus Ford Sports car engine, firstly as builders of many successful competition engines and latterly also as a major source of components for the time-honoured twin-cam and modern day 16-valve units.
Since its beginnings in the early 70’s, QED has concentrated almost exclusively on the building and development of the twin-cam in all its varying forms ranging from standard through all specifications of competitions engines. It has always been their aim to offer the best possible parts and service.
Twin-cam engine builders and enthusiasts worldwide rely on parts from Quorn to service their engines. Their stores contain a comprehensive range of standard items both QED and Lotus branded, a selection of uprated performance parts, and of course, the out and out race engine paraphernalia.
MD, Ken Snailham says: ‘As component suppliers, we feel that we have an advantage over many in that we actually use the parts we market and are able to provide a good technical back-up service, and as engine builders, the advantage lies in that we have the best available components immediately to hand, plus the facility, in-house, to dyno run and test all our products’.
Ken has been involved with motorsport for many years, winning the RAC Leaders Speed Hillclimb Championship in 1984 driving a Lotus Seven, and more currently, campaigning a very modified hillclimbing Ralt powered by a 2.6-litre Hart engine.
Quorn Engine Developments’ workshop and stores are to be found in darkest Leicestershire very convenient for Donington, Silverstone and Mallory Park.
Anyone who is considering entering the HISTORIC F3 Championship in 1991 is welcome to phone QED for advice or help regarding their engines. The phone number is: 0509 412317.
Further information can be obtained from the following:
Series co-ordinator: Jacqui Goodman — Tel: 0734 761432
Drivers’ representative: David Jackson — Tel: 0403 784022 (w) or 0798 813717
Series sponsor: Ken Snailham of Quorn Engine Developments — Tel: 0509 412317