Formula
3
Johnny's
debut in F3 was with the Mike Rowe team at the end of 1986.
He finished an excellent fourth in his first race at Donington
Park (shades of his F1 debut with Benetton only three years
later). He then went one better and climbed the lower step
of the F3 podium, finishing third in the prestigious Cellnet
Super Prix at Brands Hatch. Johnny's speed and skill attracted
much attention and Eddie Jordan was quick to snap him up to
drive in F3 for the 1987 season, saying that Johnny had "an
absolutely brilliant natural talent".
1987
was a triumphant year for Johnny with Jordan. He won five
races and claimed the championship at his first attempt. He
also won the Autosport award for National Racing Driver of
the Year, presented by Tiff Needell.
The
caption reads: "With a name like Johnny Herbert,
you've got as much chance of getting into F1 as I
have of becoming a TV presenter, kid."
You couldn't have said a truer word, Tiff...
He was rewarded with a test drive in the Benetton F1 car at
Brands Hatch. During the test, Johnny outpaced regular driver
Thierry Boutsen with a stunning performance, confirming him
as a rising star. Nigel Mansell, who was also at Brands testing
that day, pulled into the pits to ask: "Just who is driving
that thing?". The team were so impressed that Johnny
was invited to take part in further tests at Imola and Jerez.
Finishing the season on another high note, Johnny won the
Cellnet F3 Super Prix at Brands Hatch. The following fateful
year, he was in Formula 3000.
1987 Circuit Pos'n Pole (P) and
Fastest laps (FL)
----------------------------------------------------------
15 Mar Thruxton 1st P/FL
5 Apl Brands Hatch (GP) 1st FL
12 Apl Silverstone (GP) 3rd P
20 Apl Thruxton 1st P/FL
4 May Silverstone (Short) 1st P/FL
17 May Brands Hatch (Indy) 2nd
25 May Thruxton R P
7 Jun Silverstone (GP) 1st
28 Jun Zandvoort 9th
5 Jul Donington R P
12 Jul Silverstone (GP) 4th
2 Aug Snetterton 3rd
9 Aug Donington Park R
15 Aug Oulton Park 2nd
31 Aug Silverstone (Short) 7th
6 Sep Brands Hatch (GP) 5th
13 Sep Spa-Francorchamps -
18 Oct Thruxton 3rd FL
Final 1987 Championship standings:
1 Johnny Herbert (GB) 79
2 Bertrand Gachot (B) 64
3 Martin Donnelly (GB) 61
4 Thomas Danielson (S) 56
5 Damon Hill (GB) 49
6 Gary Brabham (AUS) 37
7= Perry McCarthy (GB) 22
7= Phillippe Favre (F) 22
9 Steve Kempton (GB) 18
10 Niclas Schonstrom (S) 17
11 Peter Kox (NL) 17
12 Roland Ratzenberger (A) 10
13 Mark Blundell (GB) 6
Car: Jordan Reynard-VW
1986 Circuit Pos'n
-------------------------------------
20 Jul Donington 4th
25 Aug Silverstone 4th
31 Aug Brands Hatch DQ
13 Sep Spa-Francorchamps 8th
28 Sep Zolder 10th
5 Oct Silverstone 5th
Final 1986 Championship standings:
1987 Circuit Event Pos'n
-------------------------------------------------------------
30 May Monaco Grand Prix support race 3rd
4 Oct Silverstone European F3 Cup R
11 Oct Brand Hatch Cellnet European Superprix 1st (P)
29 Nov Macau Macau F3 GP 18th
1986 Circuit Event Pos'n
-------------------------------------------------------------
3 Aug Brands Hatch Cellnet Superprix 3rd
