I am delighted to have been involved with the location and private treaty sale this important Formula3 Ralt RT3, driven by Ayrton Senna to his first F3 race.

Thought to be the last and only Senna Ralt F3 left in existence, it is not only significant in the back ground of Senna history but highly useable in today’s Historic events.

At the start of 1982, the Ralt RT3 Formula 3 Toyota engined car (#291) was purchased by the West Surrey Racing team who fielded charismatic Argentinian Enrique “Quique” Mansilla as their number 1 driver in the car during that year’s British Formula 3 Championship.

Mansilla was extremely successful during 1982, finishing in 2nd place in the championship overall, on narrowly missing out on the Championship.

#291’s claim to more fame came at the end of 1982 at Thruxton.

West Surrey Racing had signed an up and coming Brazilian driver for the 1983 F3 season and having already won the 1982 FF2000 championship, they gave the last non-championship drive of the 1982 F3 season to the new man.

On the 13th November 1982 at Thruxton, Ayrton Senna da Silva, had his first Formula 3 drive in #291 and as became his legend, he had a point to prove.

Not only did he succeed in putting #291 on pole, he also claimed fastest lap and went on to win the race; Senna had arrived with Dick Bennetts, team leader at West Surrey, commenting that he had never seen a pilot run as fast!

In 1983 with another RT3 Ralt, he went on to win the F3 Championship.
#291 went on racing competitively under the direction of Gerhard Berger during 1983 and throughout subsequent years, until it came in to the care of the current owner.

Please click on “Features” and “History” tabs to view more details.

Highly collectable and competitive, this racing car comes with new style active FIA papers, race logbook and with all items in date. It is ready to race at any significant historic event worldwide, such as the Monaco Historique Grand Prix.