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Gerry Birrell in the JJ Stanton Lotus 69 at Mallory Park in March 1971.  Copyright Ian Blackwell 2018.  Used with permission.

Formula 2 1971

This was the season that the monocoques took over F2. March swapped to monocoque construction for their all-conquering 712M, joining Lotus, who continued their 69 design, and Pygmeé. Chevron, Lola and De Tomaso built new monocoque designs during the 1971 season leaving just Brabham and Tecno who preferred their successful spaceframe designs. The monocoque designs won 17 races; the spaceframes 8. In a remarkable turnaround from 1970, more Marchs started F2 races in 1971 than Brabhams. Lotus and Tecno were the next most numerous.

The championship was won by Ronnie Peterson in a March 712M but Emerson Fittipaldi was almost as quick in his Lotus 69. François Cévert had speed but not enough reliability from his works Tecno and, to complete the variety, Carlos Reutemann finished second in the championship in his Brabham BT30 and BT36 and would have won a title based on all 25 races.

The races

07 Feb 1971 > Colombia Grand Prix at Bogotá

14 Feb 1971 > Bogotá Grand Prix

14 Mar 1971 > Mallory Park

04 Apr 1971 > Jim-Clark-Gedächtnis-Rennen at Hockenheim

12 Apr 1971 > Jochen Rindt Memorial Trophy at Thruxton

25 Apr 1971 > Grand Prix de Pau

02 May 1971 > ADAC Eifelrennen at Nürburgring

16 May 1971 > Gran Premio de Madrid at Jarama

31 May 1971 > Hilton Transport Trophy at Crystal Palace

13 Jun 1971 > Vallelunga

20 Jun 1971 > Gran Premio della Lotteria at Monza

27 Jun 1971 > Grand Prix de Rouen at Rouen-les-Essarts

25 Jul 1971 > Imola

08 Aug 1971 > Mantorp Park Grand Prix

22 Aug 1971 > Swedish Gold Cup at Kinnekullering

30 Aug 1971 > BRSCC Rothmans Trophy at Brands Hatch

12 Sep 1971 > Flugplatzrennen Tulln-Langenlebarn

26 Sep 1971 > Prix du Président de la Republique Française at Circuit d'Albi

03 Oct 1971 > Hockenheim

10 Oct 1971 > Gran Premio di Roma at Vallelunga

17 Oct 1971 > Gran Premio Madunina at Vallelunga

European Trophy for F2 Drivers events shown in bold

1971 European Trophy for F2 Drivers table

1Ronnie PetersonMarch 712M - Cosworth FVA54 pts5 wins
2Carlos ReutemannBrabham BT30 - Cosworth FVA
Brabham BT36 - Cosworth FVA
40 pts 
3Dieter QuesterMarch 712M - BMW M12/231 pts 
4Tim SchenkenBrabham BT36 - Cosworth FVA27 pts 
5François CevertTecno TF71 - Ford BDA22 pts2 wins
6Wilson FittipaldiLotus 69 - Cosworth FVA
March 712M - Cosworth FVA
16 pts 
7Mike BeuttlerMarch 712M - Cosworth FVA12 pts1 win
8Jean-Pierre JarierMarch 712M - Cosworth FVA10 pts 
9Jean-Pierre JaussaudMarch 712M - Cosworth FVA9 pts 
10Niki LaudaMarch 712M - Cosworth FVA8 pts 

Previous: the 1970 season

Next: the 1972 season

All the main runners used Cosworth FVA engines except Quester who had a factory BMW engine, and the works Tecnos which used BDA engines.

Of the other five championship races, three were won by Emerson Fittipaldi and one by Graham Hill, both being graded drivers and thus ineligible for points. Maximum points in those races were awarded to Peterson, Quester, Schenken and Reuteman but these are not included in the win totals above.

Torneio Internacional de Formula 2 do Brasil

A four-race series was held in Brazil in October and November.

The races

31 Oct 1971 > Interlagos

07 Nov 1971 > Interlagos

14 Nov 1971 > Autódromo de Tarumã, Porte Allegre

21 Nov 1971 > Autódromo Oscar Cabalén, Cordoba