The 33rd BRDC International Trophy was a Formula Two motor race held at Silverstone on 29 March 1981. It was the opening race of the 1981 European Formula Two Championship.[1]
| 1981 BRDC International Trophy Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 29 March 1981 | ||
| Official name | 33rd BRDC International Trophy | ||
| Location | Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, Great Britain | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.719 km (2.932 miles) | ||
| Distance | 47 laps, 221.793 km (137.804 miles) | ||
| Weather | Rain[1] | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ralt-Honda | ||
| Time | 1:18.59 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Geoff Lees | Ralt-Honda | |
| Time | 1:22.82 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ralt-Honda | ||
| Second | March-BMW | ||
| Third | March-BMW | ||
The 47-lap race was won by New Zealander Mike Thackwell, driving a works Ralt-Honda. Italian Riccardo Paletti finished second in a March-BMW entered by Onyx Race Engineering, with another Italian, Corrado Fabi, third in a works March-BMW.
Report edit
Entry edit
A total of 46 F2 cars were entered for the event, however just 31 took part in qualifying.[1]
Qualifying edit
Mike Thackwell took pole position for Ralt Racing Ltd, in their Ralt-Honda RH6/81, averaging a speed of 133.59 mph.[1]
Race edit
The race was held over 47 laps on a wet Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. Mike Thackwell took the winner spoils for works Ralt team, driving their Ralt-Honda RH6/81. Thackwell won in a time of 1hr 11:44.67mins., averaging a speed of 115.23 mph. Over 30 seconds behind was the second place car, driven by Riccardo Paletti, in the March Onyx Racing Team’s March-BMW 812. The podium was completed by another Italian, Corrado Fabi, in his Roloil Marlboro Racing/March Racing Ltd-entered March-BMW 812, albeit one lap adrift.[2]
Race classification edit
- Fastest lap: Geoff Lees, 1:22.82 secs (125.94 mph)[1][3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "XXXIII B.R.D.C. International Trophy 1981". F2 Register. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ "F2 Register - Index".
- ^ Tristan Wood, "Drive It! The Complete Book of Formula 2 Motor Racing" (Foulis/Haynes, ASIN B009UWU1BW, 1984)