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March 761

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March 761
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMarch Engineering
Designer(s)Robin Herd
PredecessorMarch 751
SuccessorMarch 771
Technical specifications
ChassisAluminium monocoque
Axle track1,524 mm (60.0 in) (Front)
1,524 mm (60.0 in) (Rear)
Wheelbase2,438 mm (96.0 in)
EngineFord-Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) 90° V8 naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission1976: Hewland DG 400 6-speed manual.
1977: Hewland FGA 400 6-speed manual.
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsMarch Engineering
Debut1976 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
33101
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The March 761 was a Formula One racing car designed by Robin Herd of March Engineering for the 1976 season which saw continued use in 1977.

History

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In 1976, Ronnie Peterson was unhappy with the uncompetitive Lotus 77,[1] and returned to March[1] for whom he scored the team's second and last win at Monza. The 761 was fast but fragile[2] and by this point the F1 effort was being run on a shoestring with a two-car 'works' effort featuring Peterson and Hans-Joachim Stuck, the cars tending to turn up in different liveries as race-by-race sponsorship deals were signed,[2] and a 'B-team' entered under the March Engines banner for paying drivers Lella Lombardi and Arturo Merzario. By now the F1 effort as a whole was under fairly severe pressure from BMW, which wanted Robin Herd to concentrate entirely on the works' Formula Two effort, which was starting to be outpaced by French constructors (Martini and Elf) and the new Ralt marque.

That year, Peterson scored only one other point before being brokered back into a deal with Tyrrell for 1977.[1] Although he felt most at home at March,[1] it was clear that the team didn't have the resources to do Formula One "properly".

A token F1 effort with Rothmans sponsorship was run in 1977 for Alex Ribeiro and Ian Scheckter, but nothing worthwhile was achieved. Yet, as the works were fading from F1 the 761, by virtue of being cheap, simple and readily available, became the tool of choice for privateers, notably Frank Williams who after his acrimonious split with Walter Wolf needed a car to get back into racing before his own vehicle was ready.

Merzario later built his own unsuccessful F1 car based on his old 761,[3] which he and Simon Hadfield attempted to develop into a ground effect car.[3] This programme was completely unsuccessful.

At the end of the 1977 season, the F1 team's assets and FOCA membership were sold to ATS[4] (who had bought the Penske cars); Herd was retained by them as a consultant and was hence in the curious position of developing a development of his own 1975 car - and the 1978 ATS had some features reminiscent of contemporary March thinking. Mosley left the company to concentrate on FOCA matters.[4]

March 761 front-view

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1976 March Engineering Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN 19 7th
Sweden Ronnie Peterson Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 19 Ret Ret 6 Ret 1 9 Ret Ret
Theodore Racing 10
Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck Ret
March Racing 4 12 Ret Ret 4 Ret 7 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 5 Ret
Beta Team March Italy Vittorio Brambilla Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 7 14 Ret Ret
Lavazza March Italy Lella Lombardi 14
Ovoro March Italy Arturo Merzario DNQ Ret Ret DNQ 14 9 Ret
1977 Hollywood March Racing Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN 0 20th
Brazil Alex Ribeiro Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 8 DNQ 11 DNQ 15 8 12
Team Rothmans International South Africa Ian Scheckter Ret Ret 11 DNQ Ret Ret NC Ret Ret Ret
Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck Ret
United Kingdom Brian Henton 10
British Formula One Racing Team DNQ DNQ DNQ
Belgium Bernard de Dryver DNQ
Chesterfield Racing United States Brett Lunger 14 Ret 10
RAM Racing Netherlands Boy Hayje Ret DNQ DNQ NC DNQ DNQ
Finland Mikko Kozarowitzky DNQ DNPQ
United Kingdom Andy Sutcliffe DNPQ
Netherlands Michael Bleekemolen DNQ
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Belgium Patrick Nève 12 10 15 DNQ 10 DNQ 9 DNQ 7 18 Ret
Team Merzario Italy Arturo Merzario Ret DNQ 14 Ret Ret DNQ DNQ

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fearnley, Paul (18 October 2016). "Peterson's March". Motor Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "March 761". Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Team Merzario and their unraced F1 cars". unracedf1.com. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b ""Bygone Brands - March"". tradeuniquecars.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2022.