The 1989 British Formula 3000 Championship was the first season of the British Formula 3000 Championship. Australia’s Gary Brabham took the inaugural title, racing an ex-Jean Alesi Reynard-Cosworth 88D for Bromley Motorsport. He took three race wins during the season. Brabham, son of three time World Drivers Champion, Jack Brabham, only raced in the series after a deal to race for Roni Q8 Racing in the International F3000 series fell through.

Andrew Gilbert-Scott finished second overall for Eddie Jordan Racing, like Brabham, winning three races, in his Reynard-Cosworth 88D. Third spot in the standing went to Roland Ratzenberger, taking victory in round 4, at Donington Park. Other entrants during the season included Damon Hill for CoBRa Motorsports. He drove in two races, finishing third in round 3 at Oulton Park and 6th in round 5, at Brands Hatch, also in a 88D. CoBRa did taste victory in the final round, when Paolo Carcasci won at Oulton Park. Pedro Chaves, who would win the title in 1990, finished 12th in final standing after just one appearance, while former F1 driver, Desiré Wilson made an appearance for GA Motorsport in a Lola T88/50, finishing fourth, in round 5 at Brands Hatch.

Drivers and teams

The following drivers and teams contested the 1989 British Formula 3000 Championship.

TeamChassisEngineNo.DriverRounds
Republic of Ireland Eddie Jordan RacingReynardCosworth2Brazil Marco GrecoAll
3United Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottAll
United Kingdom Tony TrimmerMarchCosworth4United Kingdom Tony Trimmer1-6
United Kingdom Bromley MotorsportReynardCosworth5Australia Gary BrabhamAll
United Kingdom R.O./OmegalandReynardCosworth6United Kingdom Roger Orgee1, 2, 5, 7
MarchUnited Kingdom Mike Bryan9
United Kingdom ChamberlainReynardCosworth7United Kingdom Ian Khan1
Netherlands Cor Euser2
United Kingdom Worswick EngineeringReynardCosworth7United Kingdom Tony Worswick4-9
143
United Kingdom CoBRa MotorsportsReynardCosworth8Canada Peter Bourque5
9Portugal Pedro Chaves2
United Kingdom Damon Hill3, 5
Canada Peter Bourque7
Brazil Paolo Carcasci8-9
15United Kingdom Ross Hockenhull8
United Kingdom GA MotorsportLolaCosworth10United Kingdom Jonathan Bancroft5-9
11South Africa Desiré Wilson5
United Kingdom Daniel Muller8
United Kingdom Perry McCarthy9
17United Kingdom Divina Galica1
United Kingdom Mansell Madgwick MotorsportReynardCosworth11Brazil Paolo Carcasci4
Spain Felipe Machado7-9
12Spain Antonio AlbaceteAll
United Kingdom Spirit MotorsportReynardCosworth16Austria Roland Ratzenberger1-8
United Kingdom Geoff FarmerLolaCosworth27United Kingdom Geoff Farmer1
United Kingdom RCR 3000LolaCosworth37Switzerland Mario Hytten1
Austria Pierre Chauvet9
394, 5, 8
Italy Dominco Gitto6

Results

British Formula 3000 Championship

RoundDateCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning team
1March 19United Kingdom Brands Hatch (Indy)Brazil Marco GrecoAustralia Gary BrabhamUnited Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottEddie Jordan Racing
2March 27United Kingdom ThruxtonUnited Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottAustria Roland RatzenbergerAustralia Gary BrabhamBromley Motorsport
3April 15United Kingdom Oulton ParkAustralia Gary BrabhamAustralia Gary BrabhamUnited Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottEddie Jordan Racing
4May 29United Kingdom Donington ParkAustria Roland RatzenbergerAustria Roland RatzenbergerAustria Roland RatzenbergerSpirit Motorsport
5June 25United Kingdom Brands Hatch (Indy)Austria Roland RatzenbergerAustralia Gary BrabhamAustralia Gary BrabhamBromley Motorsport
6July 2United Kingdom SnettertonUnited Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottUnited Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottUnited Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottEddie Jordan Racing
7July 30United Kingdom Silverstone (National)Australia Gary BrabhamAustria Roland RatzenbergerAustralia Gary BrabhamBromley Motorsport
8August 13United Kingdom Oulton ParkAustria Roland RatzenbergerAustria Roland RatzenbergerBrazil Paolo CarcasciCoBRa Motorsport
9September 10United Kingdom Brands Hatch (GP)United Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottAustralia Gary BrabhamAustralia Gary BrabhamBromley Motorsport

Championship Standings

Pos.DriverBHITHROULDONBHISNESILOULBGPPoints
1Australia Gary Brabham31261512155
2United Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-Scott1313Ret123Ret45
3Austria Roland Ratzenberger228†1223Ret37
4Brazil Marco GrecoRetRet62334DNS322
5Brazil Paolo Carcasci41613
6Spain Antonio AlbaceteNC44RetRet4DNSRet79
7United Kingdom Tony Trimmer465Ret578
8United Kingdom Perry McCarthy26
9United Kingdom Tony Worswick757DNS6496
10United Kingdom Jonathan BancroftRet65Ret46
11United Kingdom Damon Hill365
12South Africa Desiré Wilson43
13Austria Pierre ChauvetRet52
14Switzerland Mario Hytten52
15Portugal Pedro Chaves52
16United Kingdom Ian Khan61
17United Kingdom Roger OrgeeNCNC70
18United Kingdom Ross Hockenhull70
19Spain Felipe Machado8Ret80
20Canada Peter Bourque80
United Kingdom Richard PeacockNC
United Kingdom Geoff FarmerRet
Italy Dominico GittoRet
Netherlands Cor EuserDNS
United Kingdom Daniel MullerDNS
United Kingdom Mike BryanDNS