March Grand Prix Engineering began operations in 1969. Its four founders were Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker and Robin Herd.
March’s launch was unprecedented in its breadth and impact. After building a single Formula 3 car in 1969 March announced that they would be introducing customer cars for F1, F2, F3, Formula Ford and CanAm in 1970, as well as running works F1, F2 and F3 teams.
The Formula One effort initially looked most promising with STP sponsorship paying for the works cars of Chris Amon, Jo Siffert and Mario Andretti and March supplying two 701 chassis to Tyrrell for Jackie Stewart and Francois Cevert. Amon took 701-1 to a rare Formula 1 victory in the Non Championship 1970 International Trophy at Silverstone, as well as finishing 2nd in both the French and Belgian Grand Prix’ of that year. Amon came close to his elusive first World Championship Grand Prix win in the car on numerous occasions but luck was not on his side.
701-1 still holds the outright lap record for the original Spa Francorchamps race track of 3 mins 27.4. This is a record that will stand forever more. At the end of the 1970 F1 season the car was sold to Tom Wheatcroft for his new Grand Prix Museum. However at the start of 1971 Wheatcroft entered Derek Bell in the 1971 Argentine Grand Prix as a one off. Bell retired and the car returned to the museum where Wheatcroft hung it on the wall so it wouldn’t cost him any more money.
March 701-1 stayed on the Wall in the Donington Collection, as it finished the Argentine Grand Prix in 1971, until recently when it taken down and is now awaiting a new owner in absolutely original condition.
Exterior Colour Red
Chasis Number 701-1
Drive Rear
Type Race Car
Year 1970
South African GP Kyalami – 7 Mar 1970 Chris Amon Retired
Race of Champions Brands Hatch – 22 Mar 1970 Chris Amon Retired
Spanish GP Jarama – 19 Apr 1970 Chris Amon Retired
International Trophy Silverstone – 26 Apr 1970 Chris Amon 1st
Monaco GP Monte Carlo – 10 May 1970 Chris Amon Retired
Belgian GP Spa-Francorchamps – 7 Jun 1970 Chris Amon 2nd
Dutch GP Zandvoort – 21 Jun 1970 Chris Amon Retired
French GP Clermont-Ferrand – 5 Jul 1970 Chris Amon 2nd
British GP Brands Hatch – 18 Jul 1970 Chris Amon 5th
German GP Nürburgring – 2 Aug 1970 Chris Amon Retired
Austrian GP Österreichring – 16 Aug 1970 Chris Amon 8th
Italian GP Monza – 6 Sep 1970 Chris Amon 7th
Canadian GP St Jovite – 20 Sep 1970 Chris Amon 3rd
US GP Watkins Glen – 4 Oct 1970 Chris Amon 5th
Mexican GP Mexico City – 25 Oct 1970 Chris Amon 4th
Argentinean GP Buenos Aires – 24 Jan 1971 Derek Bell Retired
Garage 1, The Courtyard, Harrowby Court, Harrowby Street, London W1H 5FA T: +44 (0) 20 7823 2599
