# 1978 British Formula One Championship

The 1978 British Formula One Championship (formally the 1978 Aurora AFX F1 Championship) was the first season of the British Formula One Championship. It commenced on 24 March 1978 and ended on 24 September after twelve races.
The Aurora AFX F1 Championship replaced the Shellsport Group 8 series that had been run in 1976 and 1977 to Formula Libre rules. As part of the changes, Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic cars were no longer eligible to race in the Aurora AFX championship. Formula 1 cars were now the focus of the series, with Formula 2 cars still being permitted as a 'B-class'.

## Teams and drivers

Entry List :
| Team | No. | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Rounds |
| Formula 1 ||||||
| Melchester Racing | 1 | Tony Trimmer | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1–5, 7, 9–10, 12 |
| Melchester Racing | 1 | Divina Galica | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 11 |
| Team March | 3 | Bruce Allison | March 75A/761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 4-8 |
| Team March | 4 | Guy Edwards | March 75A/761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1-2 |
| Team March | 3 | Bruce Allison | March 781 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 9-12 |
| Team March | 4 | Guy Edwards | March 781 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 3-12 |
| Team March | 21 | Geoff Lees | March 781 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 7 |
| Centro Asegurador F1 | 5 | Emilio de Villota | McLaren M25 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1–6, 10-12 |
| Centro Asegurador F1 | 5 | Emilio de Villota | McLaren M23 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 8-9 |
| Valentino Musetti | 7 | Valentino Musetti | March 752/761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1-9 |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 7 | Valentino Musetti | Ensign N177 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 10-12 |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 9 | Geoff Lees | Ensign N175 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1-4 |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 9 | Bruce Allison | Ensign N175 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 2 |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 9 | Giancarlo Martini | Ensign N175 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 5-6 |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 9 | Ray Mallock | Ensign N175 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 7 |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 9 | Desiré Wilson | Ensign N175 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 8-12 |
| Alo Lawler | 10 | Alo Lawler | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1-3 |
| Stanley BRM | 11 | Teddy Pilette | BRM P207 | BRM P202 3.0 V12 | 1–4, 7-12 |
| Team Olympus | 13 | Divina Galica | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 5 |
| J. C. Cooper | 14 | Bob Evans | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 5-6 |
| J. C. Cooper | 14 | Bob Evans | Hesketh 308E | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 7-12 |
| J. C. Cooper | 17 | John Cooper | Hesketh 308C | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 1-8 |
| J. C. Cooper | 17 | John Cooper | Hesketh 308E | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 9, 11-12 |
| J. C. Cooper | 17 | Geoff Lees | Hesketh 308E | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 10 |
| Dennis Leech | 16 | Dennis Leech | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 11 |
| Jörg Zaborowski | 19 | Jörg Zaborowski | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 3 |
| BS Fabrications | 30 | Brett Lunger | McLaren M26 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 5 |
| Theodore Racing | 32 | David Kennedy | Wolf WR3 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 12 |
| Gerd Biechteler | 65 | Gerd Biechteler | March 761 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | 4, 6 |
| Formula 2 ||||||
| Graham Eden Racing | 6 | Mike Wilds | Ralt RT1 | Ford BDG 2.0 L4 | All |
| Mario Deliotti Racing | 9 | Geoff Lees | Chevron B42 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 11 |
| L & B Excavations | 10 | Alo Lawler | Ralt RT1 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 6, 8, 11 |
| Stephen South | 12 | Stephen South | March 782 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 10-11 |
| Kim Mather | 15 | Kim Mather | Chevron B35D | Ford BDG 2.0 L4 | 1–9, 12 |
| Fred Opert Racing | 16 | Boy Hayje | Chevron B42 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 5 |
| Chevron Cars | 16 | Elio de Angelis | Chevron B42 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 10 |
| MacLaren's of Broxburn | 18 | Iain McLaren | Chevron B35 | Ford BDX 2.0 L4 | 1, 4 |
| MacLaren's of Broxburn | 18 | Iain McLaren | Chevron B40 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 9 |
| Adrian Russell | 20 | Adrian Russell | March 762 | Ford BDX 2.0 L4 | 1-11 |
| Boxer Cars | 22 | Norman Dickson | Boxer PR276 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 3, 5 |
| Boxer Cars | 22 | Geoff Brabham | Boxer PR276 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 6 |
| Boxer Cars | 22 | Emilio de Villota | Boxer PR276 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 7 |
| Andy Barton | 23 | Andy Barton | Barton JTB3 | Ford BDX 2.0 L4 | 4 |
| Andy Barton | 23 | Andy Barton | March 77B/772P | Ford BDG 2.0 L4 | 9 |
| Warren Booth | 29 | Warren Booth | Scott F2 | Ford BDX 2.0 L4 | 1, 6, 8 |
| Nigel Clarkson | 30 | Nigel Clarkson | March 742 | Ford BDX 2.0 L4 | 1–2, 12 |
| Alan Baillie | 38 | Alan Baillie | March 752 | Ford BDX Swindon 2.0 L4 | 1, 4, 6–7, 11-12 |
| Alan Baillie | 38 | Ray Mallock | March 752 | Ford BDX Swindon 2.0 L4 | 9 |
| Kevin Bowditch | 41 | Kevin Bowditch | Lola T460 | Ford 2.0 L4 | 6-7 |
| Carlo Giorgio | 42 | Carlo Giorgio | March 742 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 2, 5 |
| Dr. Joseph Ehrlich | 43 | Brett Riley | March 762 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 9-10 |
| Dicksons of Perth | 47 | Norman Dickson | March 772P | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 10-11 |
| Eugen Grupp | 64 | Eugen Grupp | Toj F202 | BMW M12 2.0 L4 | 9 |
| Osterreich ASC | 65 | Gerd Biechteler | March 782 | BMW M12 2.0 L4 | 9 |
| Briggs Racing Enterprises | 71 | John David Briggs | Chevron B42 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 10-11 |
| Briggs Racing Enterprises | 77 | Don Breidenbach | Chevron B42 | Hart 420R 2.0 L4 | 10-11 |
| Walter Raus | 78 | Walter Raus | March 762 | BMW M12 2.0 L4 | 2 |
| Smith and Jones | 90 | Richard Jones | March 742 | Ford BDG 2.0 L4 | 10-12 |
| Bill Wood | ? | Bill Wood | March 742 | Ford 2.0 L4 | 5 |

## Results and standings
### Races

| Rnd | Track | Date | Laps | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Race Winner | Constructor |
| 1 | Oulton Park | 24 March | 65 | Tony Trimmer | Tony Trimmer | Tony Trimmer | McLaren |
| 2 | Brands Hatch | 27 March | 40 | Guy Edwards | Geoff Lees | Tony Trimmer | McLaren |
| 3 | Snetterton | 16 April | 55 | Tony Trimmer | Tony Trimmer | Tony Trimmer | McLaren |
| 4 | Mallory Park | 1 May | 75 | Tony Trimmer | Emilio de Villota | Geoff Lees | Ensign |
| 5 | Zandvoort | 15 May | 38 | Brett Lunger | Brett Lunger | Bob Evans | Surtees |
| 6 | Donington Park | 21 May | 55 | Giancarlo Martini | Giancarlo Martini | Giancarlo Martini | Ensign |
| 7 | Thruxton | 29 May | 50 | Guy Edwards | Geoff Lees | Tony Trimmer | McLaren |
| 8 | Oulton Park | 24 June | 65 | Emilio de Villota | Teddy Pilette | Guy Edwards | March |
| 9 | Mallory Park | 30 July | 75 | Tony Trimmer | Emilio de Villota | Bruce Allison | March |
| 10 | Brands Hatch | 28 August | 40 | Stephen South | Emilio de Villota | Tony Trimmer | McLaren |
| 11 | Thruxton | 10 September | 45 | Emilio de Villota | Geoff Lees | Guy Edwards | March |
| 12 | Snetterton | 24 September | 50 | Emilio de Villota | David Kennedy | David Kennedy | Wolf |

### Drivers' standings

Points are awarded to the top ten classified finishers using the following structure:
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | FL |
| Points | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Pos. | Driver | OUL | BRH | SNE | MAL | ZAN | DON | THR | OUL | MAL | BRH | THR | SNE | Pts |
| 1 | Tony Trimmer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | DNS | | 1 | | 2 | 1 | | 2 | 149 |
| 2 | Bob Evans | | | | | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 93 |
| 3 | Emilio de Villota | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Ret | 5 | 7 | Ret | 4 | Ret | 8 | 8 | 86 |
| 4 | Guy Edwards | Ret | 4 | Ret | 10 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 1 | 3 | DNS | 1 | Ret | 78 |
| 5 | Geoff Lees | Ret | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | Ret | | | 5 | 5 | | 69 |
| 6 | Bruce Allison | | DNS | | 6 | Ret | Ret | 4 | 2 | 1 | Ret | 12 | 3 | 63 |
| 7 | Valentino Musetti | NC | NC | Ret | 3 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | Ret | 6 | 4 | DNS | 62 |
| 8 | John Cooper | 3 | 8 | Ret | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | | 10 | 4 | 44 |
| 9 | Mike Wilds | Ret | 6 | Ret | 7 | 6 | DNS | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 43 |
| 10 | Desiré Wilson | | | | | | | | Ret | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 34 |
| 11 | Giancarlo Martini | | | | | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | 32 |
| 12 | David Kennedy | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 22 |
| 13 | Teddy Pilette | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | | | Ret | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 20 |
| 14 | Divina Galica | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 7 | | 19 |
| 15 | Kim Mather | 4 | Ret | NC | 5 | NC | Ret | DNS | NC | Ret | | | Ret | 18 |
| 16 | Boy Hayje | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | 12 |
| = | Ray Mallock | | | | | | | 3 | | 12 | | | | 12 |
| = | Elio de Angelis | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | 12 |
| 19 | Iain McLaren | 5 | | | 9 | | | | | 10 | | | | 11 |
| = | Adrian Russell | DNQ | 10 | NC | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | NC | Ret | Ret | | 11 |
| 21 | Brett Lunger | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | 10 |
| 22 | Brett Riley | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ret | | | 8 |
| 23 | Don Breidenbach | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 6 | | 7 |
| 24 | Geoff Brabham | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | 6 |
| 25 | Walter Raus | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 26 | John David Briggs | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 17 | | 3 |
| 27 | Stephen South | | | | | | | | | | Ret | 9 | | 2 |
| = | Warren Booth | NC | | | | | 9 | | Ret | | | | | 2 |
| = | Carlo Giorgio | | 9 | | | Ret | | | | | | | | 2 |
| = | Richard Jones | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 11 | Ret | 2 |
| — | Andy Barton | | | | 12 | | | | | 11 | | | | 0 |
| — | Gerd Biechteler | | | | 11 | | DNS | | | 13 | | | | 0 |
| — | Alan Baillie | DNQ | | | 14 | | NC | NC | | | | 15 | DNS | 0 |
| — | Norman Dickson | | | DNS | | Ret | | | | | DNS | 14 | | 0 |
| — | Dennis Leech | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | 0 |
| — | Alo Lawler | Ret | Ret | DNS | | | Ret | | Ret | | | Ret | | 0 |
| — | Bill Wood | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | 0 |
| — | Kevin Bowditch | | | | | | DNQ | DNS | | | | | | 0 |
| — | Nigel Clarkson | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 0 |
| — | Jörg Zaborowski | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| — | Eugen Grupp | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| Pos. | Driver | OUL | BRH | SNE | MAL | ZAN | DON | THR | OUL | MAL | BRH | THR | SNE | Pts |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |