Page 1 of 1 After a very eventful 1976 season, which included a Grand Prix victory in Japan, March Engineering initially opted to only produce a 'B' specification of the 761 Formula 1 car for the 1977 season. The 761B was nowhere near as competitive, which was no surprise as it was based on the two-year old 751 design. To turn the fortunes around, a more substantial upgrade was readied for lead driver Ian Scheckter during the 1977 season.
Appropriately dubbed the 771, the new March Grand Prix car looked like another evolution at first glance as most of the changes were skin deep. The 771 featured a lighter chassis and better weight distribution by sandwiching the fuel tank between the driver and Cosworth DFV engine. This did increase wheelbase by 100 mm compared to the 761B. The coolant radiators were moved to the nose of the car from the side-pods.
Two 771s were built for Ian Scheckter, who competed under the Team Rothmans International banner. The first car was tested by Scheckter in the practice for the Belgian Grand Prix in June but it did not race until the Canadian Grand Prix in October, where he retired. In the interim, he raced the second car on three occasions with very little to show for. An accident during the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen proved terminal for 771/2, which was never rebuilt.
March Engineering withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the season but the first 771 was granted a new lease of life as the six-wheeled 2-4-0. Unlike the Tyrrell P34, which had four front wheels, the 2-4-0 had four rear wheels. The drivetrain was tested by Scheckter during the 1977 season but never raced in Formula 1. Together with 771/1 the 2-4-0 drivetrain was sold instead to Roy Lane, who used the car with great success in the British Hill Climb Championship. The unique rear-end was later removed from the car and used on other chassis as well.
Not particularly successful, the Cosworth DFV engined March 771 represented the end of an era for the small British manufacturer. The March name would return to Formula 1 in 1981 but of the four original founders only Robin Herd remained at that point. The one surviving 771 has had a colourful life but was eventually restored to its 1977 configuration and is raced in historic events. Page 1 of 1
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After a very eventful 1976 season, which included a Grand Prix victory in Japan, March Engineering initially opted to only produce a 'B' specification of the 761 Formula 1 car for the 1977 season. The 761B was nowhere near as competitive, which was no surprise as it was based on the two-year old 751 design. To turn the fortunes around, a more substantial upgrade was readied for lead driver Ian Scheckter during the 1977 season.