Bernie was not making any money…

The prestigious Race of Champions was a non-championship Formula One race held at Brands Hatch. It had a great tradition and history that had started back in 1965.

Picture above: Keke Rosberg (Williams FW08) takes the lead from Arnoux (Ferrari 126C3) at the start of the 1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch.

Only 13 cars were entered for the 1983 event. The Formula 1 teams who did not attend, or only sent one of their two cars, were at a scheduled F1 tyre test at the Paul-Ricard, in preparation for the French Grand Prix, which was held just one week later.

Reigning World Champion Keke Rosberg won the 1983 Race of Champions in a Williams, narrowly beating the Tyrrell of rookie Danny Sullivan. It was the first F1 appearance of Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser (picture below) in a RAM-entered March, who finished 6th, a lap down.

Sadly, this race was the final non-championship F1 race to be held in the sport’s history, one of the reasons being that Bernie Ecclestone didn’t appreciate these races, as they didn’t make him any money…