March 761

Last updated
March 761
StuckHansJ1976-07-31.jpg
Category Formula One
Constructor March Engineering
Designer(s) Robin Herd
Predecessor March 751
Successor March 771
Technical specifications
Chassis Aluminium monocoque
Axle track 1,524 mm (60.0 in) (Front)
1,524 mm (60.0 in) (Rear)
Wheelbase 2,438 mm (96.0 in)
Engine Ford-Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) 90° V8 naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission 1976: Hewland DG 400 6-speed manual.
1977: Hewland FGA 400 6-speed manual.
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants March Engineering
Debut 1976 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWins Poles F/Laps
33111
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. The 761 was not a new design, in fact the initial three cars were built up from the 751s which survived the 1975 season. Ronnie Peterson qualified on pole at the Dutch Grand Prix, and set fastest lap at, and won, the Italian Grand Prix.

Contents

History

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".

For 1977, the works cars were upgraded and referred to as 761B. 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 March 761 4848.jpg
March 761 front-view

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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

YearEntrantEngineTyresDrivers1234567891011121314151617 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 197th
Flag of Sweden.svg Ronnie Peterson RetRetRetRet719RetRet6Ret19RetRet
Theodore Racing 10
Flag of Germany.svg Hans-Joachim Stuck Ret
March Racing 412RetRet4Ret7RetRetRetRetRetRet5Ret
Beta Team March Flag of Italy.svg Vittorio Brambilla Ret8RetRetRetRet10RetRetRetRet6714RetRet
Lavazza March Flag of Italy.svg Lella Lombardi 14
Ovoro March Flag of Italy.svg Arturo Merzario DNQRetRetDNQ149Ret
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 020th
Flag of Brazil.svg Alex Ribeiro RetRetRetRetDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ8DNQ11DNQ15812
Team Rothmans International Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Ian Scheckter RetRet11DNQRetRetNCRetRetRet
Flag of Germany.svg Hans-Joachim Stuck Ret
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Henton 10
British Formula One Racing Team DNQDNQDNQ
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bernard de Dryver DNQ
Chesterfield Racing Flag of the United States.svg Brett Lunger 14Ret10
RAM Racing Flag of the Netherlands.svg Boy Hayje RetDNQDNQNCDNQDNQ
Flag of Finland.svg Mikko Kozarowitzky DNQDNPQ
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Sutcliffe DNPQ
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael Bleekemolen DNQ
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Patrick Nève 121015DNQ10DNQ9DNQ718Ret
Team Merzario Flag of Italy.svg Arturo Merzario RetDNQ14RetRetDNQDNQ

References

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