31st December 2022 - Season Review
Historic F3 2022 Season Review
Simon Armer (March 703) took his third Historic F3 title in 7 years, but by his own admission it was a combination of consistency and luck, rather than outright speed that won him the championship. Armer took no wins in 2022 but a strong run of top 4 places, including 3 seconds and 3 thirds plus a 100% finishing record were enough to secure him the title. His luck included avoiding serious damage to the March following contact with the tyre-wall in practice at the non-championship Goodwood Members’ Meeting. As it was, the car was repaired in-time for the race which saw Andrew Hibberd (Brabham BT18) romp home to his 3rd win in the Derek Bell Cup.
The real pace-setter in 2022 was indisputably Sam Harrison in the Speedsport Chevron B15. Harrison was the class of the field on the 8 occasions he raced, winning every time. Going into the final rounds at Dijon, he was only 8 points behind Armer and would almost certainly have won the championship, but a return to University prevented him from competing and he would ultimately finish as runner-up.
Other drivers to win in 2022 were Ian Bankhurst and Jeremy Timms. 2020 champion Bankhurst (Alexis Mk8) won both races on the Silverstone GP circuit and took 4 other podium finishes en route to 4th in the championship. Ian had looked a serious championship contender but a non-finish at Brands Hatch and then a non-appearance at Croft due to ill-health cost him valuable points at a crucial stage.
2021 champion Timms (Chevron B15) was the man who ran Harrison closest for pure pace. His season started strongly with a second place at Goodwood. However, a knee operation meant he was unable to take part in the early rounds of the championship, preventing him from mounting a serious defence of his title. Nevertheless he took 3 second places mid-season and ended the year with 2 determined wins at Dijon, eventually finishing 6th overall.
Third in the championship ultimately went to impressive newcomer Josh Sharp (Chevron B17). A former VSCC racer, Sharp regularly ran in the top 6 and secured his first 2 podiums at Croft as his speed and confidence grew. Swede Leif Bosson (another former champion) took 5th place in his immaculately prepared Brabham BT28, scoring in every round and taking two 3rd places at Silverstone.
Historic F3 also enjoyed strong support from other European drivers at several races, the high-point being a 26-car grid at Brands Hatch. Francois Derossi (Chevron B17) and Christoph Widmer (Brabham BT18A) were the leading contenders, Derossi taking podiums at Brands Hatch and Dijon and Widmer joining him on the Dijon podium in the first race. Jason Timms (Brabham BT21) also featured strongly at Brands and Dijon with 3rd places at both events.
New drivers to join Historic F3 in 2022 included former McLaren Chief Designer Steve Nichols (Chevron B17), Mike Lamplough (Chevron B15), Martin Whitlock (Brabham BT21) and Rachel Sergison (Merlyn Mk10/14). Grids grew steadily as the season progressed and with new drivers planning on joining the championship next year, Historic F3 looks to have real momentum as it heads into 2023.
Simon Armer
