☰
conceptcarz.com
✕

1981 March 811

The RAM Racing team was active in Formula One racing from 1976 to 1985, using other manufacturers' chassis from 1976 to 1980 before switching to a March mount for the 1981 to 1983 season. During the 1984 and 1985 seasons, they used a car of their own design.

The RAM Racing team was formed by Mike Ralph and John Macdonald and initially contested F1 using a pair of Brabham BT44B F1 cars. They drove a March car during the 1977 season but with little success. They entered their Williams FW07 in the British Formula One event during the 1979 season and seven Grand Prix events in 1980, but for the 1981 World Championship season, the underfunded team approached March to construct a new car. March had not fielded a Formula 1 car since the end of the 1977 season.

For the 1981 season, March designed and developed the 811, with its name following the company's conventional naming scheme in which the first two digits correspond to the year and the third digit or letter represents the formula. The design borrowed heavily from the Williams F1 car and was powered by a rather conventional DFV engine backed by a Hewland FGA gearbox and installed in an aluminum honeycomb chassis.

The monocoque structure was designed by Gordon Cuppock, and its suspension system was in-board at the front and rear with rocker-actuated springs and dampers. Ventilated disc brakes provided the stopping power, and steering was handled by a rack-and-pinion system. The all-aluminum Ford Cosworth DFV engine displaced 2,993cc, used a Lucas fuel injection system, produced nearly 500 horsepower, and was backed by a Hewland FGA 400 five-speed manual transmission. Construction of the car was handled by March Engines which was owned by Robin Herd. RAM managed and ran the returning March Grand Prix team during the 1981 season, with Derek Daly and Eliseo Salazar performing driving duties.

The cars wore black paint with Guinness and Rizla sponsorship. Non-qualifications frequently plagued the team, and the team would fail to score any points. The best result was a 7th place at the British Grand Prix by Daly. A total of seven examples were eventually built, with some differences between specifications. The second and third examples were built using a different honeycomb material, which was less costly but not as rigid as the other material. Although money was saved, the car's structural integrity was compromised and virtually unsafe to drive. Additional aluminum sheets helped resolve the problem but added another issue due to the extra weight.

Two additional March 811 cars were prepared in time for the Belgian Grand Prix with many of the deficiencies of the early cars resolved. A sixth car was built using input from Adrian Reynard. The improvements suggested by Reynard resulted in the 'MK3' version, which was both lighter and had a shorter wheelbase. Only chassis number RM6 incorporated the Reynard changes and it was raced by Daly for the remainder of the season, beginning with the British Grand Prix. At the end of the year, the car was sold and clothed with full-width bodywork and used by Arnold Glass and Walter Lechner to contest the Can-Am series.

The deficiencies of the March 811 and the lack of results during the 1981 season formed a rift between Herd and Macdonald, eventually resulting in each going in their own direction. Macdonald and the March Grand Prix team used the Reynard-designed March 821 for the 1982 season.

by Dan Vaughan

Monoposto
Chassis number: 811-05

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 Dan Vaughan

British manufacturer and Formula One constructor, March Engineering began operation in 1969 by its four founders, Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker, and Robin Herd. The name 'March' was chosen by using initials from their first or last names. Each of these individuals brought unique qualities and talents to the team. Herd was the designer, Rees was the team's manager, Coaker oversaw production, and Mosley handled the commercial side of the operation.

The purpose of the company was to provide chassis for customers competing in all racing categories. In 1969 the company built a Formula 3 car. A year later, they produced an F1 racer, the 701, which they used for team competition and to supply to privateers. In the non-championship Race of Champions, Jackie Stewart gave March its first F1 victory. He won the Spanish Grand Prix a month later.

In the years to come, the company would become more successful in more classes, except for the F1 program, than any other manufacturer. Their products appeared in Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula Ford 1600, and CanAm.

March Engineering's first Formula 2 racer was the 702. There were six examples of this racer constructed. They were constructed of a space frame chassis and powered by a Cosworth MAE engine matted to a Hewland MK6 gearbox. In 1971, the 712M Formula 2 racer was introduced, of which, twenty examples were constructed. Power came from BMW and Cosworth engines, with most being equipped with a Hewland FT200 gearbox. Both engines were excellent choices. The BMW four-cylinder units produced six Formula 2 Championships during the 1970s and were one of the most dominant power plants in any class of racing.

The naming scheme for the Formula 2 racers continued through the years. The 1972 F2 racer was dubbed the 722. For 1973, the team's Formula 2 racer was the 732. For 1974, the racer was the 742, 752 in 1975, and the 762 for 1976.

For 1978 the team focused heavily on their Formula 2 racers for the works BMW team. Bruno Giacomelli and his 782 was a strong contender in the 1978 season and would eventually go on to win the F2 title.

In the 1979 European Formula 2 season, Marc Surer drove a BMW-powered March 792 to the championship. Ground effects on the cars also played a major role. There were 32 examples of the 792 constructed, built atop a monocoque chassis, and most were powered by the potent 300-horsepower BMW engine.

March Engineering's involvement with Formula 2 competition continued until around the mid-1980s.

by Dan Vaughan