• The Next Step


    • FF1600

    Senna competed in the Formula Ford 1600 in 1981, he drove for Van Diemen.



    It all started March 1 1981:

    Date Circuit Competition Position
    March 1 Brands Hatch P&O 5th
    March 8 Thruxton Townsend-Thoresen 3th
    March 15 Brands Hatch Townsend-Thoresen 1st
    March 22 Mallory Park Townsend-Thoresen 2nd
    April 5 Mallory Park Townsend-Thoresen 2nd
    May 3 Snetterton Townsend-Thoresen 2nd
    May 24 Oulton Park RAC 1st
    May 25 Mallory Park Townsend-Thoresen 1st
    June 7 Snetterton Townsend-Thoresen 1st
    June 21 Silvertsone RAC 2nd
    June 27 Oulton Park Townsend-Thoresen 1st
    July 4 Donington Park RAC 1st
    July 12 Brands Hatch RAC 4th
    July 25 Oulton Park Townsend-Thoresen 1st
    July 26 Mallory Park RAC 1st
    August 2 Brands Hatch Townsend- Thoresen 1st
    August 9 Snetterton RAC 1st
    August 15 Donington Park Townsend-Thoresen (Euroseries) 1st
    August 31 Thruxton Townsend-Thoresen 1st
    September 29 Brands Townsend-Thoresen 2nd

    Ayrton Senna Da Silva won the Championship



    1. Senna 222 pts(210)
    2. Morris 156pts
    FF2000

    The next step. Senna competed in both English and European FF2000 competition, with Van Diemen.

    The pts were: 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1, 1 for pole & 1 for Fastest lap.



    The European competition would give 2 pts for fastest lap.

    Date Circuit Competition Grid Position Fastest lap Championsh. pos.
    March 7 Brands Hatch British Pole 1st FL 22pts/1st
    March 27 Oulton Park British Pole 1st FL 44pts/1st
    March 28 Silverstone British Pole 1st FL 66pts/1st
    April 4 Donington Park British Pole 1st FL 88pts/1st
    April 9 Snetterton British Pole 1st FL 110pts/1st
    April 12 Silvertsone British Pole 1st FL 132pts/1st
    April 18 Zolder, Belgium EFDA Pole retired - -
    May 2 Donington Park EFDA Pole 1st FL 24pts/1st
    May 3 Mallory Park British - 1st FL 153pts/1st
    May 9 Zolder EFDA Pole spin FL 27pts/2nd
    May 30 Oulton Park British - puncture - 153pts/1st
    May 31 Brands Hatch British - 1st FL 174pts/1st
    June 6 Mallory Park British - 1st FL 195pts/1st
    June 13 Brands Hatch British Pole 1st FL 217pts/1st
    June 20 Hockenheim EFDA Pole Accident - 28pts/3th
    June 26 Oulton Park British - 1st FL 238pts/1st
    July 3 Zandvoort EFDA Pole 1st - 49pts/1st
    July 4 Snetterton British - 2nd - 253pts/1st
    July 10 Castle Comble British Pole 1st FL 275pts/1st
    August 1 Snetterton British - 1st FL 296pts/1st
    August 8 Hockenheim EFDA Pole 1st FL 72pts/1st
    August 15 Osterreichring EFDA Pole 1st FL 95pts/1st
    August 22 Jyllandsring EFDA Pole 1st FL 118pts/1st
    August 30 Thruxton British - 1st FL 317pts/1st
    September 4 Oulton Park British Pole 1st - 338pts/1st
    September 5 Silvertsone British Pole 1st FL 360pts/1st
    September 12 Mondello Park EFDA - 1st FL 140pts/1st
    September 26 Brands Hatch British - 2nd FL 376pts/1st

    Senna won both Championships (European and English FF2000)



    On May 30, Ayrton would drive the 'Shell Super Sunbeam for Celebrities' which he won.

    November 13. Ayrton would drive a Formula 3 race at Thruxton, he got pole, fastest lap and victory... what a begin...

    Formula 3



    1983: The final step, before going to F1, would be F3, so that's what Ayrton did!

    He would drive for the West Surrey.

    The points would be 9-6-4-3-2-1, the same as F1 at the time...plus 1 for FL.



    Date Circuit Grid Position FL champ. pos. Pts. Adv.
    March 6 Silvertsone 2nd 1st FL 10pts/1st +4
    March 13 Thruxton Pole 1st - 19pts/1st +6
    March 20 Silvertsone Pole 1st FL 29pts/1st +10
    March 27 Donington Park Pole 1st FL 39pts/1st +14
    April 4 Thruxton Pole 1st - 48pts/1st +16
    April 24 Silverstone Pole 1st FL 58pts/1st +22
    May 2 Thruxton Pole 1st FL 68pts/1st +26
    May 8 Brands Hatch Pole 1st FL 78pts/1st +30
    May 30 Silverstone Pole 1st FL 88pts/1st +34
    June 12 Silverstone 2nd accident - 88pts/1st +34
    June 19 Cadwell park / did not race - 88pts/1st +24
    July 3 Snetterton 3th accident FL 89pts/1st +16
    July 16 Silverstone Pole 1st FL 99pts/1st +20
    July 24 Donington Park Pole 2nd FL 106pts/1st +18
    August 6 Oulton Park 2nd accident FL 107pts/1st +19
    August 29 Silverstone Pole 1st - 116pts/1st +22
    September 11 Oulton Park Pole accident - 116pts/1st +13
    September 18 Thruxton Pole Engine - 116pts/1st +3
    October 2 Silverstone 3th 2nd - 122pts/2nd -1
    October 23 Thruxton Pole 1st FL 132pts/1st +5




    Ayrton Senna, champion of the British F3 1983!!!



    Macau race 1983:

    20 november, Pole-position:

    Heat1: 1st(35m44.65s)

    Heat2: 1st(35m50.31s)

    Podium: 1st(1h11m34.96s)

    Fastest Lap!!!