6 When Martin Brundle beat Ayrton Senna

The 1983 British Formula Three Championship wasn’t much of a contest until Silverstone on 12 June. Entrants could choose to score points in either the British or European Championships, and such was Ayrton Senna’s advantage in the former after winning the first nine races that he opted for the latter. Needing to close the gap in the domestic series, Martin Brundle initially stuck with that, but it meant running on slower British-spec tyres. After being only 12th fastest in first practice, the Englishman switched to the European competition, bolted on the faster tyres, and took pole position.

He led away, too, and for once Senna was on the back foot. When he crashed out and Brundle romped to victory, it marked a psychological turning point. Brundle won six of the following nine races, although Senna eventually clinched the title at the final round. Anorak fact The only other person to win a race in that year was Calvin Fish, after Senna crashed into Brundle at Oulton Park and eliminated them both