The 1981 European Formula Two season was the fifteenth European Formula Two season and was contested over 12 rounds. The season started on 19 March and ended on 20 September. The Drivers' Championship was won by Englishman Geoff Lees.

Season review

RndRaceTrackDateLapsDistanceTimeSpeedPole positionFastest lapRace winnerConstructor
Rd.1United Kingdom BRDC International TrophySilverstone29 March47221.793 km1'11:44.76185.482 km/hNew Zealand Mike ThackwellUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesNew Zealand Mike ThackwellRalt-Honda
Rd.2Germany Jim Clark GedächtnisrennenHockenheim5 April30203.67 km1'00:28.05202.095 km/hUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesItaly Riccardo PalettiSweden Stefan JohanssonLola-Hart
Rd.3United Kingdom Jochen Rindt Memorial TrophyThruxton20 April55208.560 km1'04:02.40195.403 km/hBelgium Thierry BoutsenSwitzerland Marc SurerColombia Roberto GuerreroMaurer-BMW
Rd.4Germany Internationales ADAC-EifelrennenNürburgring26 April9205,515 km1'05:04.63189.481 km/hItaly Corrado FabiBelgium Thierry BoutsenBelgium Thierry BoutsenMarch-BMW
Rd.5Italy Gran Premio di RomaVallelunga10 May65208.0 km1'16:01.14164.169 km/hSweden Eje ElghItaly Corrado FabiSweden Eje ElghMaurer-BMW
Rd.6Italy Gran Premio di MugelloMugello24 May42220.290 km1'15:20.99175.414 km/hBelgium Thierry BoutsenItaly Piero NecchiItaly Corrado FabiMarch-BMW
Rd.7France Grand Prix Automobile de PauPau8 June73201.48 km1'33:13.91129.664 km/hItaly Michele AlboretoUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesRalt-Honda
Rd.8Italy Gran Premio del MediterraneoPergusa-Enna26 July45222.75 km1'10:09.82190.483 km/hBelgium Thierry BoutsenBelgium Thierry BoutsenBelgium Thierry BoutsenMarch-BMW
Rd.9Belgium Grand Prix de Formule 2 BelgiqueSpa-Francorchamps9 August30209.01 km1'10:02.68179.037 km/hBelgium Thierry BoutsenUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesRalt-Honda
Rd.10United Kingdom Donington "50 000"Donington Park16 August70220.20 km1'16:49.82171.963 km/hGermany Manfred WinkelhockUnited Kingdom Geoff Lees Italy Corrado FabiUnited Kingdom Geoff LeesRalt-Honda
Rd.11Italy Gran Premio dell'AdriaticoMisano6 September60209.28 km1'12:03.74174.249 km/hBelgium Thierry BoutsenItaly Michele Alboreto United Kingdom Geoff LeesItaly Michele AlboretoMinardi-BMW
Rd.12Sweden Mantorp Park – F2 TrofénMantorp Park20 September65203.125 km1'20:08.0152.090 km/hItaly Corrado FabiVenezuela Johnny CecottoSweden Stefan JohanssonLola-Hart

Drivers' Championship

PosDriverCar(s)SIL United KingdomHOC West GermanyTHR United KingdomNÜR West GermanyVAL ItalyMUG ItalyPAU FrancePER ItalySPA BelgiumDON United KingdomMIS ItalyMAN SwedenPts
Pos Driver Car(s) SIL United Kingdom HOC West Germany THR United Kingdom NÜR West Germany VAL Italy MUG Italy PAU France PER Italy SPA Belgium DON United Kingdom MIS Italy MAN Sweden Pts 1 United Kingdom Geoff Lees Ralt RH6/81-Honda 7 5 NC 5 5 2 1 Ret 1 1 2 2 51 2 Belgium Thierry Boutsen March 812-BMW Ret Ret Ret 1 3 Ret 2 1 2 12 8 4 37 3 Sweden Eje Elgh Maurer MM81-BMW 18 4 2 2 1 4 5 5 3 7 Ret 17 35 4 Sweden Stefan Johansson Lola T850-Hart 9 1 7 4 2 Ret 8 Ret 14 4 9 1 30 5 Italy Corrado Fabi March 812-BMW 3 Ret Ret 3 4 1 Ret Ret 4 2 Ret 7 29 6 New Zealand Mike Thackwell Ralt RH6/81-Honda 1 3 5 6 DSQ Ret 5 3 15 22 7 Colombia Roberto Guerrero Maurer MM81-BMW Ret 10 1 Ret Ret 6 Ret 4 Ret Ret 4 Ret 16 8 Italy Michele Alboreto Minardi Fly 281-BMW 11 8 Ret 8 Ret 14 Ret 3 8 1 13 9 Germany Manfred Winkelhock Ralt RT2-BMW 2 Ret DSQ 12 Maurer MM81-BMW 5 3 10 Italy Riccardo Paletti March 812-BMW 2 Ret 3 Ret 6 10 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 11 11 Italy Piero Necchi March 812-BMW DNS DNS 6 Ret Ret 3 3 11 7 Ret 9 12 Netherlands Huub Rothengatter March 802-BMW 2 13 8 11 Ret 6 13 Italy Carlo Rossi Toleman TG280-Hart 5 6 Ret Ret 8 8 4 Ret Ret Ret 10 6 14 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Minardi Fly 281-BMW 14 Ret 4 DNS Ret 6 March 812-BMW 13 7 Ret Ret 6 6 6 15 United Kingdom Kenny Acheson Lola T850-Hart 19 Ret Ret 6 10 15 Ret 3 5 16 United Kingdom Jim Crawford Toleman TG280-Hart 4 7 Ret Ret 9 11 10 6 9 7 10 4 17 France Richard Dallest AGS JH17-BMW Ret Ret Ret 4 AGS JH18-BMW Ret 7 Ret 5 5 AGS JH15-BMW 9 18 Germany Christian Danner March 812-BMW 10 9 5 10 Ret 16 Ret Ret Ret 14 Ret 11 2 19 Austria Jo Gartner Toleman TG280-BMW 7 9 6 Ret Ret 1 March 812-BMW DNQ 8 20 United Kingdom Brian Robinson Chevron B42-Hart 6 DNS 1 Chevron B48-Hart DNQ — Italy Guido Pardini Lola T850-BMW Ret Ret Ret 9 7 12 DNS Ret Ret 13 Ret 0Switzerland Fredy Schnarwiler Lola T850-BMW 15 12 9 Ret Ret 7 Ret 16 0United Kingdom Ray Mallock Ralt RT4-Hart 8 DNQ 9 Ret 0United Kingdom Paul Smith March 782-Hart Ret 0 March 802-Hart 10 Ret 19 DNQ 8 10 17 DNQ 14 — Germany Harald Brutschin March 802-BMW Ret 8 Ret Ret DNQ 16 0Colombia Ricardo Londoño Toleman TG280-Hart 9 Ret DNS 0 Lola T850-Hart Ret — Sweden Anders Olofsson March 792-Hart Ret 9 0Italy Roberto Del Castello March 782-BMW 18 10 Ret 0Italy Paolo Barilla Minardi Fly 281-Ferrari Ret 0 Minardi Fly 281-BMW 10 — Italy Guido Daccò Minardi GM75-BMW 17 11 Ret 12 20 17 Ret DNQ 12 0 Merzario M1-BMW Ret — Austria Sewi Hopfer Toleman TG280-Hart 13 13 Ret 14 11 Ret 11 Ret DNQ 0United Kingdom Warren Booth Chevron B48-Hart 16 11 0Austria Franz Konrad March 802-BMW 11 0United Kingdom Tiff Needell AGS JH18-BMW 11 0Italy Gianfranco Trombetti March 812-BMW 20 Ret Ret DNQ Ret Ret 12 12 12 13 0Switzerland Jürg Lienhard March 802-BMW 12 Ret Ret Ret 17 DNPQ 0Switzerland Loris Kessel March 812-BMW 12 Ret 19 0 Merzario M1-BMW DNPQ March 802-BMW Ret — Switzerland Marc Surer March 812-BMW Ret 12 0Germany Bernd Brutschin March 802-BMW 13 DNQ DNQ 0Argentina Miguel Ángel Guerra Minardi Fly 281-Ferrari 13 0Japan Keiji Matsumoto March 802B-BMW 15 0Austria Pierre Chauvet Toleman TG280-BMW 16 0United Kingdom Kim Mather March 792-Hart Ret 18 0Sweden Stanley Dickens March 802-BMW 18 0Italy Oscar Pedersoli Ralt RT2-BMW DNQ Ret Ret Ret 0Italy Arturo Merzario Merzario M1-BMW DNQ DNS Ret 0 March 812-BMW Ret — France Patrick Gaillard AGS JH17-BMW Ret 0 March 802-BMW Ret — Germany Jochen Dauer GRS TC 001-BMW DNS Ret 0Denmark John Nielsen March 792-BMW Ret DNS 0Italy Piero Nappi Ralt RT2-BMW DNQ Ret 0Italy Marco Brand Merzario M1-BMW DNQ Ret 0Germany Helmut Kallenborn March 752-BMW Ret 0Belgium Hervé Regout Ralt RT2-BMW Ret 0Italy Roberto Farnetti Minardi Fly 281-BMW Ret 0United Kingdom Roy Baker Chevron B48-Hart DNQ 0 March 802-Hart DNS DNQ DNPQ DNQ DNQ — United Kingdom Bob Howlings Chevron B42-Hart DNQ 0 Pos Driver Car(s) SIL United Kingdom HOC West Germany THR United Kingdom NÜR West Germany VAL Italy MUG Italy PAU France PER Italy SPA Belgium DON United Kingdom MIS Italy MAN Sweden PtsColour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points classification Blue Non-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired, not classified (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX)
1United Kingdom Geoff LeesRalt RH6/81-Honda75NC5521Ret112251
2Belgium Thierry BoutsenMarch 812-BMWRetRetRet13Ret212128437
3Sweden Eje ElghMaurer MM81-BMW18422145537Ret1735
4Sweden Stefan JohanssonLola T850-Hart91742Ret8Ret1449130
5Italy Corrado FabiMarch 812-BMW3RetRet341RetRet42Ret729
6New Zealand Mike ThackwellRalt RH6/81-Honda1356DSQRet531522
7Colombia Roberto GuerreroMaurer MM81-BMWRet101RetRet6Ret4RetRet4Ret16
8Italy Michele AlboretoMinardi Fly 281-BMW118Ret8Ret14Ret38113
9Germany Manfred WinkelhockRalt RT2-BMW2RetDSQ12
Maurer MM81-BMW53
10Italy Riccardo PalettiMarch 812-BMW2Ret3Ret610RetRet15RetRetRet11
11Italy Piero NecchiMarch 812-BMWDNSDNS6RetRet33117Ret9
12Netherlands Huub RothengatterMarch 802-BMW213811Ret6
13Italy Carlo RossiToleman TG280-Hart56RetRet884RetRetRet106
14Venezuela Johnny CecottoMinardi Fly 281-BMW14Ret4DNSRet6
March 812-BMW137RetRet666
15United Kingdom Kenny AchesonLola T850-Hart19RetRet61015Ret35
16United Kingdom Jim CrawfordToleman TG280-Hart47RetRet91110697104
17France Richard DallestAGS JH17-BMWRetRetRet4
AGS JH18-BMWRet7Ret55
AGS JH15-BMW9
18Germany Christian DannerMarch 812-BMW109510Ret16RetRetRet14Ret112
19Austria Jo GartnerToleman TG280-BMW796RetRet1
March 812-BMWDNQ8
20United Kingdom Brian RobinsonChevron B42-Hart6DNS1
Chevron B48-HartDNQ
Italy Guido PardiniLola T850-BMWRetRetRet9712DNSRetRet13Ret0
Switzerland Fredy SchnarwilerLola T850-BMW15129RetRet7Ret160
United Kingdom Ray MallockRalt RT4-Hart8DNQ9Ret0
United Kingdom Paul SmithMarch 782-HartRet0
March 802-Hart10Ret19DNQ81017DNQ14
Germany Harald BrutschinMarch 802-BMWRet8RetRetDNQ160
Colombia Ricardo LondoñoToleman TG280-Hart9RetDNS0
Lola T850-HartRet
Sweden Anders OlofssonMarch 792-HartRet90
Italy Roberto Del CastelloMarch 782-BMW1810Ret0
Italy Paolo BarillaMinardi Fly 281-FerrariRet0
Minardi Fly 281-BMW10
Italy Guido DaccòMinardi GM75-BMW1711Ret122017RetDNQ120
Merzario M1-BMWRet
Austria Sewi HopferToleman TG280-Hart1313Ret1411Ret11RetDNQ0
United Kingdom Warren BoothChevron B48-Hart16110
Austria Franz KonradMarch 802-BMW110
United Kingdom Tiff NeedellAGS JH18-BMW110
Italy Gianfranco TrombettiMarch 812-BMW20RetRetDNQRetRet121212130
Switzerland Jürg LienhardMarch 802-BMW12RetRetRet17DNPQ0
Switzerland Loris KesselMarch 812-BMW12Ret190
Merzario M1-BMWDNPQ
March 802-BMWRet
Switzerland Marc SurerMarch 812-BMWRet120
Germany Bernd BrutschinMarch 802-BMW13DNQDNQ0
Argentina Miguel Ángel GuerraMinardi Fly 281-Ferrari130
Japan Keiji MatsumotoMarch 802B-BMW150
Austria Pierre ChauvetToleman TG280-BMW160
United Kingdom Kim MatherMarch 792-HartRet180
Sweden Stanley DickensMarch 802-BMW180
Italy Oscar PedersoliRalt RT2-BMWDNQRetRetRet0
Italy Arturo MerzarioMerzario M1-BMWDNQDNSRet0
March 812-BMWRet
France Patrick GaillardAGS JH17-BMWRet0
March 802-BMWRet
Germany Jochen DauerGRS TC 001-BMWDNSRet0
Denmark John NielsenMarch 792-BMWRetDNS0
Italy Piero NappiRalt RT2-BMWDNQRet0
Italy Marco BrandMerzario M1-BMWDNQRet0
Germany Helmut KallenbornMarch 752-BMWRet0
Belgium Hervé RegoutRalt RT2-BMWRet0
Italy Roberto FarnettiMinardi Fly 281-BMWRet0
United Kingdom Roy BakerChevron B48-HartDNQ0
March 802-HartDNSDNQDNPQDNQDNQ
United Kingdom Bob HowlingsChevron B42-HartDNQ0
PosDriverCar(s)SIL United KingdomHOC West GermanyTHR United KingdomNÜR West GermanyVAL ItalyMUG ItalyPAU FrancePER ItalySPA BelgiumDON United KingdomMIS ItalyMAN SwedenPts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

External links