1981 March 811 Monoposto

This March 811 Formula 1 car is chassis number 811-05. It was used by Irish former Ensign and Tyrrell driver Derek Daly throughout the 1981 season. It was brought to Belgium and Monaco but failed to qualify. It placed 22nd on the starting grid for the Spanish GP and 20th place for the French Grand Prix. Its best qualifying position was 17th place at Silverstone by Derek Daly. During the race, Daly used 811-06 and finished seventh overall. Later, Daly qualified 811-05 21st in Germany, 19th in Austria, Holland, and Italy, and 20th in Canada.

After the 1981 season, chassis 811-05 was sold to UK-based Italian stuntman Val Musetti who used the Colin Bennett Racing-run car to contest the 1982 British Formula One Championship. It earned podium finishes at Brands Hatch and Thruxton, followed by Musetti winning the non-Championship Formula Libre race at Oulton Park.

The car, now wearing a wide-bodied quasi-sports car configuration, was shipped to the United States, where it contested the 1982 Can-Am series. The car failed to finish at Road America and Trois Rivieres before driving duties were handed over to Canadian John Graham, who raced the car for the last four rounds of the series. Highlights included a 9th place at Caesar's Palace and an 8th place at Laguna Seca.

In 1988, the car was restored to Formula One specification by Don Wood and has since been campaigned in Historic Formula One events.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2021