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Aussies first (1975) Driver’s European Cup-series started at year 1975 with amazing occurrence, because FIA announced officially in the June’s bulletin, which races were going to be part of the series. At that point three out of the six decided races of the new Formula 3 series were already driven. The sports committee CSI of FIA did not clarify the exact way of sharing points, but said it to be the usual way. Those who bet for 9-6-4-3-2-1–line were right. The opening race were full of surprises as an unknown driver, norditalian Renzo Zorzi won the race with GRD Lancia. Especially his car’s Repetto-tuned Lancia Beta engine started nasty rumours that were not proven right. Nastiest rumours claimed the engine to be a size of 3 litre, when the regulated maximum was 2000 cc. Further investigations were not required as the engine vanished from the top as fast it had get there. Zorzi achieved a bronze medal of the European Cup–series, but he did not gain many victories. Later Zorzi visited also Formula 1 level, but did not stay there in second hand teams for very long. Swedish drivers gave a good sign of striking power already in Monaco, though they were also unlucky there. Despite the misfortune experienced old fox Uffe Svensson brought his red Brabham BT 41 to the goal as third man. Actually the victory should have belonged after superb driving to his country fellow Conny Andersson, who was sentenced to one minute’s penalty for false start. Home Win (1975) In the second race the main spot was on Conny Andersson with his March 752 car. He was the big star at his home-track and the happenings in Monaco were already forgotten. Andersson took to the pole position also in Nürburgring with a time of 8.04.7. In the year 1967 this time would have given a first row position in Formula 1. Conny was ruling the competition until he had to drop out because of a mechanical dysfunction. However Sweden did not loose the victory. Yet more experienced old hand, which was wery known from Elaintarhanajot in Finland, count Freddy Kottulinsky von Kottulin kept the Swedes on top. German born swedish count Kottulinsky drove for Lotoy-team a new English Modus car and gave engine manufacturer BMW one of its rare international Formula 3 victories. Monaco’s surpriser, Zorzi, was calmly left without any points. Fast Brothers Monza’s race was driven in the end of June and it was also a part of British championship. That’s why it gained a huge success among local teams and drivers. The fastest driver of qualifications was Australian Larry Perkins, who with his brother Terry drove a new Ralt RT 1 car that was designed and build by famous countryman of Larry, Ron Tauranac. Team used Ford twin cam–engines tuned by Holbay. Later on Ralt RT 1 car were to be heard much more about at all international racingtracks. The top man of English BP-series and a strong favourite to win, Gunnar Nilsson from Sweden crashed his new works March 752 car so badly in the qualifications, that he couldn’t take part to the actual race. Luckily he made out of the accident with a small headache. Gunnar Nilsson’s career stayed short as he died in cancer just as he had raised into the top elite of Formula 1. He won only one Grand Prix-race in Lotus team until his time was up for ever. Nilssons gifts and knowledge were shown in English Formula 3 series and he won championship in 1975 as the works driver of March Toyota. Before that he distinguished himself in Formula Atlantic series by winning six races out of total seven races. Nilsson gained experience and achieved success in Formula 2, F Super Vee- and F Vee-classes. Tough Fight (1975) There was a tough fight over the Monza’s final race’s victory. Larry Perkins won it before the local heroes, Spreafico and Pesenti-Rossi. March’s other factory-driver, Alex "Jesus Saves" Ribero was disqualified for outrageous driving methods. Brazilian left back over the pacific to get more sponsors for Formula 2–class. At this point Conny Andersson led the F 3 championships, but his gap to the holder of the second place was only few points. It was not enough. Larry Perkins lastditch effort paid off and the Australian won the European Cup Championship leaving the Swede’s old veteran behind. Usually this kind of success was predicting a place in Formula 1 level and so Perkins got his share of that cake. Enjoyment was short and Larry’s career was about to end dramatically after a bad crash. However Larry Perkins succeeded to recover after a long time period and even today, over twenty years later, he is still racing in Super Touring- and Supercars–classes in his home country down under. Winner’s podium is still very familiar place for him. In all Formula 3 season 1975 showed that the class was feeling alive and well. Partly this was influenced by the Formula 1’s mighty team-chiefs, which wanted to give newcomers a fair international class for starting career. One make classes like Germanys Formula Super Vee and french modification Formula Super Renault were always favouring the drivers that were connected to. Conny's Fall (1976) As the next championship-year started Conny Andersson was undoubtedly the favorite, especially when he made a deal with the Italian representative and importer of March, Paolo Pavanello and his team. Engine came from Toyota and visited the Pedrazzani brothers tuninggarage, Novamotor in Novara. Conny’s partner was a young Italian, Gianfranco Brancatelli. At that point Conny himself was almost forty years old. The start of the season seemed very promising as Conny won the opening race at the long and difficult track of Nürburgring, Germany. Local Ralt RT 1 BMW stardriver Bertram Schäfer took the second place and the third place went to a young promising Italian, Riccardo Patrese with Trivellato’s team’s Chevron Toyota. From this young italian newcomer was expected to be seen a good effort, because he had many years experience from Formula Karting-classes. The success of Riccardo was crowned with the championship gold couple years earlier. Andersson descended from clouds back to earth very soon as he was left in Zandvoort without points. At home, in swedish Mantorp, catch was only two points and Patrese moved on the European Cup-seasons top place. In the following races the men took turns in winning and in the second last race in Knutstorp of Skåne Conny Andersson got even after the disappointments in Mantorp. Victory in front of the home audience was pure gold and the enjoyment was increased by the fact that Patrese never made it to the finishing line. Conny’s European championship seemed to be well in hand. Fatal Race (1976) Too many Swedes should have held their horses, because in the finishing race in Vallelunga, Rome, it was Conny’s turn to fail completely. Conny didn’t gain any points. Conny’s driving partner achieved his second victory here, but even that could not save Conny’s day. Patrese drove safely to the second place and it brought to the Italian the needed six European Championship points. As the finishing flag of Vallelunga was showed the final count for EC-points started. When seven best results out of 10 races was chosen, Patrese and Andersson ended up the same amount of points. Both had collected 52 points, but Patrese had two extra points more than the Swede had. The equality of these men was seen from the results. Both won four races. Also the second places were divided equally, but Italian had one third place more than Conny. Patrese made later a long career in Formula 1, even though he did not gain championship in that class. Conny Andersson’s introduction to Formula 1 circuits was very short. Success in the Formula 2 was also out of the limits. Andersson was always left as the second best in the international race-circuits. In home Sweden he still won many championships. In the year 1976 Formula 3’s European Championship series gold was a struggle between only three men, but otherwise the series were quite international. Most of the point-takers came from Italy, but there was also an interest towards the Formula 3 class was shown among Germans and Swedes. Britons were totally out and they took their only points not until the last championship race in Vallelunga. Actually there was no Formula 3-race held in Britain that year. Also French were missed but for nothing as the Jean Louis Schlesser, who later succeeded in sport-cars and in protos, did find the class not worth an effort. French drivers were known to be loyal to their own tricoloured Renault-classes.
There were no regulation changes for this year complete with the 23 mm air restrictor wich restricts the engine power to around 165 horse power.
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