The first March F1

The March 701 is a Formula One racing car, designed by Robin Herd, one of the founders of the marque, and Peter Wright. The 701 was March’s first Formula 1 design and was designed and built in three months by March Engineering.

Picture above: Chris Amon at full speed in his works March 701, which is for once, without its distinctive sidepods, probably to improve top speed on the long straits of Hockenheim, at the 1970 German Grand Prix (retired).

March Engineering was set up in 1969 by Max Mosley, Alan Rees and Graham Coaker, with engineer and former McLaren and Cosworth racing car designer, Robin Herd.

In total, eleven 701s were constructed, with March supplying many privateer entrants as well as their own works team.  The 701 was built around a bathtub aluminium monocoque, that carried the V8 Cosworth engine, as a stressed member.

One of the 701’s visually distinctive features was the aerofoil shape given to the detachable side-mounted external fuel tanks, positioned between the wheels. The tank’s profile was created by Peter Wright. Although the aerofoil shape claimed at the time to produce downforce and aid stability, Herd stated later that in the turbulent air between the wheels they would only have been marginally effective.

Picture below: Jackie Stewart won the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama in a ELF Team Tyrrell-entered blue March 701. The only Grand Prix victory for the 701. Note the distinctively shaped side pods, described above.