OldRacingCars.com

Gran Premio del Mediterraneo

Enna-Pergusa, 25 Jul 1976

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 René Arnoux Martini MK19 [003] - Renault CH1B V6
#2 Ecurie Elf
60
2 Alex Dias Ribeiro March 762 [U1] - BMW M12/7 Rosche
#4 March BMW Motorsport (see note 1)
60
3 Eddie Cheever March 762 [7-2] - Hart 420R
#15 Project Four Racing/Marlboro
(see note 2)
60
4 Jean-Pierre Jabouille Elf (Jabouille) 2J [7603] - Renault CH1B V6
#5 Equipe Elf Switzerland (see note 3)
60
5 Hans Binder Chevron B35 [35-76-14] - BMW M12/7
#9 Chevron Racing Team (see note 4)
60
6 Markus Hotz March 762 [14] - BMW M12/7
#44 Lista Racing Team (see note 5)
59
7 Harald Ertl Chevron B35 [35-76-04] - BMW M12/7
#37 Fred Opert Racing (see note 6)
59
8 Manfred Schurti March 762 [17] - BMW M12/7
#45 Lista Racing Team (see note 7)
58
9 Hans Meier Chevron B35 [35-76-05] - Hart 420R
#18 Fred Opert Racing (see note 8)
57
NC Gaudenzio Mantova March 762 [6] - BMW M12/7
#46 Scuderia Gulf Rondini (see note 9)
55 engine in Heat 1
NC Bernard Chevanne March 762 [2] - BMW M12/7
#47 Bernard Chevanne (see note 10)
51
NC Wilhelm "Willi" Deutsch March 762 [13] - BMW M12/7
#24 Daimon Varley Racing Team (see note 11)
41 electrics in Heat 1
NC Alberto Colombo March 752 [1-2] - BMW M12/7
#38 Alberto Colombo
28 did not start Heat 2?
R Ian Grob Modus M4 [048-FA] - Hart 420R
#35 Team Modus (see note 12)
42 handling in Heat 1; overheating in Heat 2
R Freddy Kottulinsky Ralt RT1/75 [8] - BMW M12/7
#28 Fritz Lochmann Racing (see note 13)
35 head gasket in Heat 2
R Maurizio Flammini March 762 [R1] - BMW M12/7 Rosche
#3 March BMW Motorsport (see note 14)
33 accident in Heat 1; accident in Heat 2
R Howdy Holmes Chevron B35 [35-76-06] - Hart 420R
#19 Fred Opert Racing (see note 15)
32 broken nose cone in Heat 2
R Mikko Kozarowitzky March 762 [752-23?] - Hart 420R
#14 Project Four Racing/Marlboro
(see note 16)
31 broken fuel pump in Heat 2
R Roberto Marazzi Chevron B35 [35-76-02] - BMW M12/7
#8 Trivellato Racing Team (see note 17)
20 accident in Heat 1; accident in Heat 2
R Giorgio Francia Chevron B35 [35-76-01?] - BMW M12/7
#25 Trivellato Racing Team (see note 18)
17 accident in Heat 1
R Luciano Pavesi Ralt RT1/76 [28] - Hart 420R
#40 Scuderia Ala d'Oro (see note 19)
14 accident in Heat 1
R Michel Leclère Elf (Jabouille) 2J [7602] - Renault CH1B V6
#6 Equipe Elf Switzerland (see note 20)
11 accident in Heat 1
R Giancarlo Martini March 762 [12] - BMW M12/7 Rosche
#17 Scuderia Everest [Giancarlo Minardi]
(see note 21)
6 engine in Heat 1
R Fredy Lienhard March 762 [8] - BMW M12/7
#43 Lista Racing Team (see note 22)
1 accident in Heat 1
R Patrick Tambay Martini MK19 [002] - Renault CH1B V6
#1 Ecurie Elf
0 accident in Heat 1
DNS Arturo Merzario March 762 [5?] - Hart 420R
#23 Willi Kauhsen Racing Team/Europa Mobel
(see note 23)
Did not start
(broken engine)
DNSC Ingo Hoffmann March 762 [11?] - Hart 420R
#22 Willi Kauhsen Racing Team (see note 24)
Did not start (crashed)
DNSC Gianfranco Trombetti Chevron B35 [35-76-08] - BMW M12/7
#26 /Springoil (see note 25)
Did not start (crashed)
DNQ Helmut Bross Chevron B29 [29-75-27] - BMW M12/7
Did not qualify
DNQ Vittorio Brambilla March 732/742 - Lancia-Ferrari V6
(see note 26)
Did not qualify
DNQ Max Bonnin March 752 [17] - BMW Schnitzer 20-4
(see note 27)
Did not qualify
DNQ Lorenzo Niccolini March 762 [3] - BMW M12/7
#16 Scuderia Everest [Giancarlo Minardi]
(see note 28)
Did not qualify
DNQ Keke Rosberg Toj F201 [0176?] - BMW M12/7
#27 Team Warsteiner Eurorace
Did not qualify
DNP "King" Brabham BT40 [19] - BMW M12/7
(see note 29)
Did not take part in official practice
(may not have arrived for practice)
DNP Cosimo Turizio March 762 [10] - BMW M12/7
(see note 30)
Did not take part in official practice
(may not have arrived for practice)
DNA Danny Sullivan Modus M7 [039] - Hart 420R
(see note 31)
Did not arrive

All cars are 2-litre F2 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Patrick Tambay (F2) 2-litre Martini MK19 [002] - Renault CH1B V6 1m 33.16s
2 Maurizio Flammini (F2) 2-litre March 762 [R1] - BMW M12/7 Rosche 1m 33.26s
3 Alex Dias Ribeiro (F2) 2-litre March 762 [U1] - BMW M12/7 Rosche 1m 33.31s
4 Michel Leclère (F2) 2-litre Elf (Jabouille) 2J [7602] - Renault CH1B V6 1m 33.54s
5 Giorgio Francia (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-01?] - BMW M12/7 1m 33.82s
6 Luciano Pavesi (F2) 2-litre Ralt RT1/76 [28] - Hart 420R 1m 33.91s
7 Jean-Pierre Jabouille (F2) 2-litre Elf (Jabouille) 2J [7603] - Renault CH1B V6 1m 33.97s
8 Hans Binder (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-14] - BMW M12/7 1m 34.20s
9 René Arnoux (F2) 2-litre Martini MK19 [003] - Renault CH1B V6 1m 34.24s
10 Gaudenzio Mantova (F2) 2-litre March 762 [6] - BMW M12/7 1m 34.24s
11 Howdy Holmes (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-06] - Hart 420R 1m 34.35s
12 Harald Ertl (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-04] - BMW M12/7 1m 34.54s
13 Giancarlo Martini (F2) 2-litre March 762 [12] - BMW M12/7 Rosche 1m 34.93s
14 Eddie Cheever (F2) 2-litre March 762 [7-2] - Hart 420R 1m 35.00s
15 Manfred Schurti (F2) 2-litre March 762 [17] - BMW M12/7 1m 35.06s
16 Gianfranco Trombetti * (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-08] - BMW M12/7 1m 35.11s
17 Hans Meier (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-05] - Hart 420R 1m 35.15s
18 Freddy Kottulinsky (F2) 2-litre Ralt RT1/75 [8] - BMW M12/7 1m 35.37s
19 Mikko Kozarowitzky (F2) 2-litre March 762 [752-23?] - Hart 420R 1m 35.40s
20 Alberto Colombo (F2) 2-litre March 752 [1-2] - BMW M12/7 1m 35.63s
21 Roberto Marazzi (F2) 2-litre Chevron B35 [35-76-02] - BMW M12/7 1m 35.65s
22 Fredy Lienhard (F2) 2-litre March 762 [8] - BMW M12/7 1m 35.83s
23 Ian Grob (F2) 2-litre Modus M4 [048-FA] - Hart 420R 1m 35.84s
24 Arturo Merzario * (F2) 2-litre March 762 [5?] - Hart 420R 1m 36.23s
25 Markus Hotz (F2) 2-litre March 762 [14] - BMW M12/7 1m 36.25s
26 Wilhelm "Willi" Deutsch (F2) 2-litre March 762 [13] - BMW M12/7 1m 36.36s
27 Bernard Chevanne (F2) 2-litre March 762 [2] - BMW M12/7 1m 36.45s
28 Ingo Hoffmann * (F2) 2-litre March 762 [11?] - Hart 420R 1m 36.46s
29 Keke Rosberg * (F2) 2-litre Toj F201 [0176?] - BMW M12/7 1m 36.48s
30 Vittorio Brambilla * (F2) 2-litre March 732/742 - Lancia-Ferrari V6 1m 36.86s
31 Lorenzo Niccolini * (F2) 2-litre March 762 [3] - BMW M12/7 1m 36.92s
32 Helmut Bross * (F2) 2-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-27] - BMW M12/7 1m 37.77s
33 Max Bonnin * (F2) 2-litre March 752 [17] - BMW Schnitzer 20-4 1m 41.08s
- Cosimo Turizio * (F2) 2-litre March 762 [10] - BMW M12/7
- "King" * (F2) 2-litre Brabham BT40 [19] - BMW M12/7
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. March 762 [U1] (Alex Dias Ribeiro): Built in March 1976 for the works F2 team, initially using parts from the works 752s. Then rebuilt on a new monocoque for Ronnie Peterson to drive at the opening round of the 1976 F2 season. It was then raced by Alex Dias Ribeiro for the rest of the season, with CAIXA sponsorship. It was crashed by Ribeiro at Hockenheim in September and effectively written off. The remaining components of the car were fitted to a new 772 monocoque and given chassis number 772/9.
  2. March 762 [7-2] (Eddie Cheever): New to Ron Dennis's Project Four Racing with a standard BMW engine installation. The back end was then stripped off at the factory and the front end was collected by Dennis for fitting of a Lancia-Ferrari Dino V6 engine, as used in the Lancia Stratos. It was driven by Jochen Mass at Hockenheim, the opening F2 round, but it broke a crankshaft almost immediately, and the spare engine broke a piston after a few more laps. The car was rebuilt with a Hart 420R engine for Eddie Cheever to drive for the rest of the season. It was "totally wrecked" in a pre-race testing accident at Mugello in July and rebuilt on an updated 752 monocoque. Cheever then took over the team's new Ralt and the 762 was driven by Mikko Kozarowitzky and Bertram Schäfer at the final two races, but neither were able to qualify. Sold to Michel Lateste for French hillclimbs in 1977 but wrecked at La Forêt-d'Auvray in June 1977. The 762/752 was not seen again.
  3. Elf (Jabouille) 2J [7603] (Jean-Pierre Jabouille): New for the Elf Switzerland team in 1976, built with new chassis 7603 and fitted with a Renault V6 engine for Formula 2 in 1976. Raced by Jean-Pierre Jabouille at the opening race of 1976, and believed to be his car at every race that season. This car was rebuilt for 1977 as chassis 7701 and sold to the Kauhsen team.
  4. Chevron B35 [35-76-14] (Hans Binder): New as a works entry with BMW engine for Rolf Stommelen to race at Hockenheim in June. Then raced by Hans Binder for the rest of the F2 season, and also in the Shellsport G8 race at Brands Hatch in late August. Then sent out to Japan for Jacques Laffite to win the Nihon Grand Prix at Fuji in November. The car remained in Japan and was raced by Tetsu Ikuzawa at two races in March and April before his new B40 was delivered. It is believed to be the car raced by Kuniomi Nagamatsu later that season, and then by Keiji Matsumoto for the rest of 1977 and through the 1978 season. Subsequent history unknown.
  5. March 762 [14] (Markus Hotz): New to Swiss agent Markus Hotz and collected on 12 June. This must be the car Hotz first drove in the Swiss national championship round at Eggberg on 20 June, racing it for the first time at Freiburg-Schauinsland a week later. Retained by Hotz for the opening races of the 1977 Swiss season, and for the F2 race at the Nürburgring in May. Then sold to Gerd Biechteler and raced by him in Austrian events in 1977 and 1978. Subsequent history unknown.
  6. Chevron B35 [35-76-04] (Harald Ertl): New to Harald Ertl for the European F2 series using works BMW engines, first appearing in plain yellow livery at Hockenheim. As Ertl was also competing in F1, the Chevron was then raced by Rolf Stommelen with Heyco backing in the non-championship Nürburgring race, where he qualified on pole position and led until the engine broke. It was then raced by Ertl at Vallelunga and Salzburgring. When Fred Opert acquired Gitanes sponsorship for F2 in 1976, he struck a deal with Ertl to run his BMW-powered car for Gitanes' F1 star Jacques Laffite and other drivers at the three French F2 races in 1976, and had a spare set of bodywork in Gitanes blue so the car could be easily changed. In return, Opert's team ran Ertl's car at other races for him. Its first race in blue was Pau, where Laffite qualified the Gitanes/Elf B35 third and finished second. It was then put back in its yellow Heyco bodywork for Ertl to drive at Hockenheim, then back to blue for Tom Pryce to drive for Opert at Rouen in a deal arranged by the works. Pryce qualified third and apologised for not taking pole in a car he described as "fantastic". It had its yellow bodywork restored for Ertl at Mugello, Enna and Estoril, where it carried ATS sponsorship. There was another swap to Gitanes blue at Nogaro, where Jean-Pierre Jarier qualified well but disappointed Opert by retiring from the race for no good reason. It was back in Ertl's yellow for him to drive at Hockenheim in September. Ertl drove the car again at two early 1977 races, now with Schnitzer BMW engines and Heyco sponsorship. The car remained with Ertl and Gustav Hoecker, a German tuning specialist who regularly worked with Ertl, until Ertl's death in 1982. Ertl's collection of cars was then broken up, and the B35 ended up with Paul and Madelyn Gutman (Tiburon, CA) in the US. In 1990 or 1991 they sold the car to Dave Vegher of Veloce Motors West (Petaluma, CA) and it remained with him, being rebuilt as time allowed with a fresh BMW engine and its yellow bodywork repainted to Gitanes blue. In 2013 Vegher sold the car to Harindra de Silva (Palos Verdes Estates, CA) who wanted its BMW engine. The rolling chassis then sat at Virtuoso Performance for several years until it was shipped to the UK where it was rebuilt by Hi-Tech Motorsport and fitted with a Geoff Richardson BDG engine. It was raced in blue Gitanes livery by Timothy De Silva at the Silverstone Classic in July 2019, July 2021 and July 2022.
  7. March 762 [17] (Manfred Schurti): New to Swiss agent Markus Hotz, without engine or gearbox, dispatched on 15 July 1976. This must be the car entered by Lista Racing Team for Manfred Schurti to drive at Enna on 25 July when it was said to be "brand new" and "purchased from Markus Hotz". After racing it at Enna and Misano, Schurti had a collision with Cheever's Ralt in practice for Hockenheim at the end of September and Motoring News reported it was a "write off". Evidently repaired and sold to Hohmann Auto Technik for Marc Surer to drive in F2 in the first half of 1977. It then went to Walter Raus, who drove it a couple of Austrian national events, entered by Austria Puma Racing Team. Retained by Raus for 1978, when he drove it in the European F2 series, entered by OASC Racing Team. Subsequent history unknown.
  8. Chevron B35 [35-76-05] (Hans Meier): New to Fred Opert Racing for Formula 2 in 1976, and used by Juan Cochésa for the opening four races of the season, until he failed to qualify at Salzburgring. Jean-Pierre Jarier took over the drive at Pau, and and it was raced later in the season by Hans Binder, Hans Meier, Jacques Laffite and Rolf Stommelen. It was then rented by Ian Grob for two races of the Shellsport G8 series at Brands Hatch in October and November. The sister car to this was taken out for the Macau GP and sold in New Zealand, but the next time 76-05 was seen was at the start of the 1977 F2 season, prior to the Opert team's second and third B40s being delivered, when it was driven by Keke Rosberg at Silverstone and by Hans Royer at Thruxton. Subsequent history unknown but a car in France later claimed this identity.
  9. March 762 [6] (Gaudenzio Mantova): New to Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi for Formula 2 in 1976, entered by Scuderia Gulf Rondini. Pesenti-Rossi was also racing in F3, and then acquired a F1 Tyrrell as well, so the 762 was taken over by Gaudenzio Mantova from June 1976 onwards. The car was then borrowed by the works for Maurizio Flammini to test at Vallelunga, and he wrote it off after just ten laps. The car was returned to the factory to be rebuilt and its surviving components were used to build his March 772/4 for 1977. The 772 carried the chassis plate from the 762, presumably for carnet reasons. The 762 therefore probably ceased to exist. When 'Pierpaolo' later bought a car with this chassis plate, it was probably 772/4.
  10. March 762 [2] (Bernard Chevanne): New to Pierre Maublanc's MRS team with white bodywork and blue sidepods for Maublanc to use in French and European hillclimbs in 1976. Sold or leased to Bernard Chevanne to use in F2 for the latter part of the season, replacing a MRS-supplied March 742 which he had failed to qualify at five successive races. Raced by Chevanne at Enna-Pergusa, Estoril and Nogaro. To Jean Lapierre for 1977 and updated to 772 specification for French hillclimbs. Retained for 1978 but crashed in practice at Tonnerre in April. Reported to have been repaired and raced by Anne Bavery in 1979, but that car seems more likely to have been a March 752. The 762 was next seen in August 1980, when it had been fitted with a ROC engine and was raced by José Albertini. Retained by Albertini for 1981, but only seen infrequently after May 1981. Raced by Albertini a few times in 1982 and 1983, with either a ROC or BMW engine. Subsequent history unknown.
  11. March 762 [13] (Wilhelm "Willi" Deutsch): New to Willi Deutsch (Cologne, Germany) with BMW engine for Formula 2 in 1976. March records say that Deutsch had traded his 1975 car, although they give it as chassis 753/13 instead of chassis 752/13, so this car was listed in works records as 762/13 instead of 762/9, as had originally been intended. It left the factory with the 752 plate on it, but a replacement plate saying "763-13" was later provided at Deutsch's request. He was sponsored by the Cologne-based Daimon GmbH, who manufactured Varley batteries under license. Deutsch was entered in 1976 by Daimon Varley Racing Team. Deutsch returned in 1977 in what looked like the same car, but it was reported to be chassis 762/11, one of the Willi Kauhsen Racing Team cars from 1976. Deutsch had changed from BMW to Hart engines, so it is possible that he had acquired or leased an available car and transferred his 1976 bodywork on to it. However, the cockpit bodywork and nose he used in 1977 was new 772-bodywork, and he would have needed to respray the Kauhsen's 762's sidepods from white to red, as Deutsch's 1977 car had the same red sidepods as his 1976 car. For the purpose of these histories, it is assumed he used the same car in 1976 and 1977, but changed engine supplier. After low-key performances in the opening rounds at Silverstone and Thruxton, Deutsch failed to qualify at Hockenheim and was only able to start as second reserve when two other cars pulled out. Another disappointing performance at the Nürburgring two weeks later brought his F2 career to a close. In February 1978, Motoring News reported that Jim Evans (Selby, North Yorkshire) would be running the ex-Willi Deutsch 762 with sponsorship from Cliff Sayer's Sayers Haulage. Jim recalls that he acquired the car from Jim Gleave's MRE operation. The red livery of the car when it arrived was not an exact match to the last time Deutsch had raced it, but it was completely unlike Kauhsen's blue livery, which had also been suggested as the origins of Evans' car. Also Evans' car had a rear wing mount which matched Deutsch's car but was quite different to all the Kauhsen cars. The mount appears to have been from a Modus, so was very distinctive. Evans raced it in Formule Libre in 1978, winning more often than not. He then sold it to Paul Gardner (Preston, Lancashire) but he crashed the car very heavily soon after. The tub was scrapped at the Selby tip, and the suspension was used with a John Leek chassis for the "Lotus Esprit" GT that Evans drove in the Donington GT series from July 1980 onwards.
  12. Modus M4 [048-FA] (Ian Grob): Built in mid-1976 for Ian Grob to race in Formula 2 instead of the unsuccessful new Modus M7. The new car consisted of a Formula Atlantic chassis with a Formula 2 rear end and was designated M4, although it was little different to the cars then being run by in Group 8 by Norman Dickson and Richard Scott. Raced by Grob at Mugello, Enna-Pergusa and Estoril, but near the back of the grid at the last two of these. Grob then raced it in the ShellSPORT Group 8 race at Brands Hatch on August Bank Holiday Monday, where he qualified tenth in a huge field of 36, but crashed on the opening lap of the race. Much larger fields arrived for the last two F2 races of the season, at Nogaro and Hockenheim, and Grob was well off qualifying pace. The monocoque from this car (numbered "048-3-76") somehow ended up in Ireland where it was used to rebuild M3/025 in 1979 or 1980. The resulting car took the identity of 048. According to Marcus Pye, it was sold via dealer Brian McGinley (Northern Ireland) and after at least two more owners was owned by David Marsh (Bingley, Yorkshire). It was offered for sale on his behalf by Jim and Richard Evans (Yorkshire) in the late 1990s. By 2003, Marcus believed it was owned by Martin Brockhouse (Leeds, Yorkshire).
  13. Ralt RT1/75 [8] (Freddy Kottulinsky): New to Freddy Kottulinsky, fitted with a BMW M12 engine and raced in F2, entered by wealthy German brewer Fritz Lochmann. Kottulinsky debuted the car at Vallelunga in October 1976 but failed to qualify after his first engine ran its bearings and his replacement blew up after an oil line came adrift. The car was loaned to Gernot Lamby for the opening rae of the 1976 season, then Kottulinsky raced it for the rest of the year, winning at the Nürburgring in May. Retained for 1977, when Kottulinsky used Heidegger BMW engines. Sold to Freddy Roland (Mulhouse, Alsace, France) for French hillclimbs from 1978 and 1979, during which time it was substantially modified. After winning at Bagnères-de-Bigorre in July 1979, Roland suffered a motorcycle accident and did not return until May 1980, when he had a newer and more standard Ralt RT1. Photographs indicate that his older 1975 car was sold to Roger Ecoffet, who ran it during the 1980 season, still with a BMW engine. Subsequent history unknown.
  14. March 762 [R1] (Maurizio Flammini): Built in July 1975 as a test car for the Renault F2 engine, and tested at Goodwood. After three engine blow-ups, the relationship with Renault deteriorated and the car was rebuilt in November/December 1975 with a BMW engine. It was fitted with white 1976 bodywork to use as a show car, then sprayed orange in March 1976, and raced by Hans Stuck in the opening round of the 1976 season. Stuck won from pole. After Stuck raced it again at Salzburgring, it was then sprayed white and allocated to Maurizio Flammini from Pau onwards. Flammini wrecked it at Enna-Pergusa and it was rebuilt on a new monocoque. At the end of the season it was fitted with Stuck's orange bodywork and the chassis plate from 762//U2 and taken to Japan for the German to race at Suzuka in November. Sold in Japan. Subsequent history unknown.
  15. Chevron B35 [35-76-06] (Howdy Holmes): New to Fred Opert Racing for Formula 2 in 1976, and used by José Dolhem for the opening seven races of the season. Then raced by Riccardo Patrese, Howdy Holmes, Keke Rosberg and Rupert Keegan later in the season. Taken to Macau for Keegan to race in the Grand Prix on 14 November, then sold to Steve Millen who raced it in the New Zealand Formula Pacific series in January 1977, and then in Southeast Asian races later that year. Subsequent history unknown but some reports say that it was badly damaged in a testing accident by its next owner and remains in Southeast Asia.
  16. March 762 [752-23?] (Mikko Kozarowitzky): New to Ron Dennis's Project Three Racing and driven in F2 by Bruno Pescia, Vittorio Brambilla, Masami Kuwashima, Tim Schenken and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud in 1975. Retained in 1976 as part of Project Four Racing and thought to be the "762" used as a testbed for the Lancia engines at the start of that season. Then probably the "762" used by Gilles Villeneuve at Pau and by Mikko Kozarowitzky at three later races. Unknown after July 1976.
  17. Chevron B35 [35-76-02] (Roberto Marazzi): New to Trivellato Racing Team for Roberto Marazzi to race in the 1976 European F2 series. The car was retained by Trivellato for 1977 and when the team's new Ferrari-engined B40 was not ready in time, the old B35 was raced by Riccardo Patrese in the opening races of the season. Despite being identified as chassis '76-02, it was said to be the car driven by Marazzi's teammate Giorgio Francia in 1976, indicating that the team cars had been swapped around during 1976. Patrese took pole position in the car at the fourth round, at the Nürburgring on 1 May, but crashed in the race and the car was written off.
  18. Chevron B35 [35-76-01?] (Giorgio Francia): Used as a test car by Derek Bennett and others during February 1976, including Alex Ribeiro. Then sold to Trivellato Racing Team for Willi Lovato to race in four races at the start of the 1976 European F2 series. Believed to be the car taken over by Giorgio Francia for the rest of the season, although Francia was said to be driving the Trivellato team's spare car at Estoril after a "write off" at Enna. However, it does appear that there was some shuffling of cars, as '01 appears to be the car sold to Andy Barton for 1977, even though it was said to be the former car of Lovato's teammate Roberto Marazzi. Barton fitted a 2-litre BDA engine for Shellsport G8 and libre racing but struggled with the car's handling, and crashed at Croft in April. The car was rebuilt with a new tub and three new corners but was still problematic and he crashed again at Ingliston on 8 May. Barton then raced the Sana for the rest of 1977 but returned to the Chevron for a libre race at Croft in May 1978, only to crash yet again in practice. This time the car was not repaired.
  19. Ralt RT1/76 [28] (Luciano Pavesi): New to Maurizio Braito (Varese, Italy), founder of Scuderia Ala d'Oro, and fitted with a Hart 420R for his protégé Luciano Pavesi to use in the European F2 series. Pavesi raced it from July onwards, appearing at Mugello, Enna-Pergusa, Misano, Nogaro and Hockenheim. He took pole position at Misano but did not finish inside the points once. He retained the Ralt for 1977, when it was again identified as chassis 28 by Autosprint, and raced it at Vallelunga, Mugello and Misano. Pavesi made one further appearance in the car at Misano in 1978, when it was reportedly fitted with a BMW engine, but he failed to qualify. It was thought possible that this was the car that Pavesi used in F3 in 1979, but Doug Grant, who worked for Ralt in Italy at this time, says that it was not converted. Subsequent history unknown.
  20. Elf (Jabouille) 2J [7602] (Michel Leclère): New for the Elf Switzerland team in 1976, based on the chassis 7502 used by the team in 1975, rebuilt with a Renault V6 engine as chassis 7602 for 1976. Raced by Michel Leclère at the second race of 1976, and believed to be his car at every subsequent race that season. This car is reported to have been rebuilt for 1977 as chassis 7703 and sold to the Kauhsen team.
  21. March 762 [12] (Giancarlo Martini): New to Giancarlo Minardi's Scuderia Everest with BMW engine for Giancarlo Martini to drive in Formula 2 in 1976. Subsequent history unknown.
  22. March 762 [8] (Fredy Lienhard): New to Swiss agent Markus Hotz and delivered to Southend airport on 25 February to be shipped to Switzerland. Hotz bought two other 762s, 762/14 collected on 12 June or 762/17 on 15 July, but this is the only one delivered early enough to be the 762 raced by Fredy Lienhard in the Swiss national championship and in selected F2 races. He won at Österreichring and Eggberg in the Swiss series but only qualified for one of his three F2 races, crashing in the first heat at Enna. Subsequent history unknown.
  23. March 762 [5?] (Arturo Merzario): New to Willi Kauhsen Racing Team with Hart engine for Klaus Ludwig to drive in Formula 2 in 1976. Raced by Ludwig at Hockenheim, the opening round, and "written off" when he crashed into José Dolhem's stationary Chevron B35 on the opening lap. The Kauhsen team had already taken delivery of a third March 762, chassis 762/11, the week before, and Ludwig used 762/11 at the next race. Photographs suggest that he then returned to his original car for the rest of the season. Subsequent history unknown.
  24. March 762 [11?] (Ingo Hoffmann): New to Willi Kauhsen Racing Team with Hart engine for drivers Ingo Hoffmann and Klaus Ludwig in Formula 2 in 1976. The Kauhsen team had three March 762s and exactly how they were used by the team's two drivers is unresolved. Ludwig is believed to have driven 762/11 at the Nürburgring, the third round, but which car he used thereafter is unknown. Ludwig's usual car was driven by Arturo Merzario at Enna in July.
  25. Chevron B35 [35-76-08] (Gianfranco Trombetti): New to Trivellato Racing Team for Gianfranco Trombetti to race in the 1976 European F2 series. Retained by Trombetti for a few races at the start of 1977. Then raced by Lorenzo Niccolini at Mugello in June, when it was still red with Everest signwriting. Next seen in June 1979 when it was driven in practice by Filippo Niccolini at Mugello but did not start. Subsequent history unknown.
  26. March 732/742 (Vittorio Brambilla): The Brambilla brothers did a deal with Lancia for 1976 to provide Lancia-Ferrari V6 engines to Ron Dennis's Project 4 Formula 2 team. Engines were installed in March 752 and 762s for Project 4, but the engine was not a success, and Dennis pulled out. The Brambillas then installed the engine in a test car that appears to have been a 1973 or 1974 March chassis, possibly one of the 732s the brothers had raced in 1973. The car was described by Autosprint as a 732 and "apparently ex-Pesenti" [Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi], suggesting it was his 742, but that 742 was in long-nose specification in early 1976 and the Lancia test car was in an older specification, so the Pesento reference is thought to be incorrect. Vittorio Brambilla drove this test car at Enna-Pergusa in July 1976 but failed to qualify. He then raced it in the non-championship race at Misano four weeks later, finishing last in the first heat but improving to ninth in the second heat. The car's only other known appearance was when Guido Pardini raced it at Mugello in June 1977, retiring after only two laps. The identity of the car remains unresolved.
  27. March 752 [17] (Max Bonnin): New to Ron Dennis's Project Three team and raced by Vittorio Brambilla and Sandro Cinotti during the first half of the 1975 F2 season. Crashed heavily by Brambilla in practice at Mugello, then raced by Bruno Pescia at the end of the year. Sold to Max Bonnin for 1976 but only seen at a few races. To Sylvain Lachaud for French hillclimbs in 1977 but referred to as a 742 for much of the year. To Bernard-Etienne Grobot for 1978 but he crashed very heavily at Gué-Chervais in September and the car was returned to March for repairs. To Anne Baverey for 1979, when described as a 772, but damaged mid-season and sold to Philippe Porcheur. Retained by Porcheur for 1980, when it was again described as a 772. Bought from Porcheur by Eddy D'Hoe for Belgian hillclimbs in 1981. Then to Pierre Evrard (Rochefort, Belgium) for Belgian hillclimbs in 1982 and 1983. Subsequent history unknown.
  28. March 762 [3] (Lorenzo Niccolini): New to Giancarlo Minardi's Scuderia Everest with BMW engine for Lorenzo Niccolini to drive in Formula 2 in 1976. Retained for 1977 when it is likely to have been the car that Alfonso Giordano failed to qualify at Vallelunga in May (although 762/12 is also a possibility). It was then driven in two races by Gianfranco Trombetti, when it was specifically identified by Autosprint as ex-Niccolini. Trombetti took over the car, and appeared with it at Mugello and Enna in 1978, when it was entered for him by RAM Racing. The car appeared again in 1979, now entered as a 782 and driven by Pasquale Barberio. It was acquired from Barberio as a complete car less engine by Flavio Tullio (Padova, Italy) in 2014.
  29. Brabham BT40 [19] ("King"): New to Vittorio Venturi in Italy, who raced it in European hillclimbs in 1973, and in one F2 race in Italy that season. It ran in Marlboro livery, and was identified as chassis 19 by Motoring News when it appeared at Misano in July. It then reappeared for two more F2 races driven by Spartaco Dini and entered by Scuderia Nettuno, and Autosport noted at the time that it was the car bought for Venturi to do European hillclimbs. This then appears to be the car driven by "Shangri-Là" (Romano Martini) in the F2 at Mugello in July 1974. It is then unknown until BT40/19 appears in the hands of a Sicilian hillclimber who used the pseudonym "King", who also had a March 75S with BMW engine, and used the engine in the BT40. "King" was entered for the Enna-Pergusa F2 race in 1976, but it is unclear whether he arrived for practice. Some years later, the car was used by "King" as security on a loan, and after he died, it therefore changed hands. It was offered for sale in 2017, missing not just engine and gearbox, but other parts which were loaned out and then disappeared. The "BT40/19" plate was still on the car, and appeared to be genuine.
  30. March 762 [10] (Cosimo Turizio): New to Cosimo Turizio for Formula 2 in 1976 and entered by Scuderia Vesuvio. He only competed in a handful of F2 races in 1976, but retained the car thereafter, and raced it in Historic F2 in 2007. He won two races at Monza in it in 2016.
  31. Modus M7 [039] (Danny Sullivan): New to KVG Racing for 1976 and entered by Modus Cars or Team Modus for Ian Grob to drive in European Formula 2. Grob failed to qualify at Hockenheim and Thruxton but was allowed to start the latter race as a reserve, and finished 15th. After finishing fifth at a non-championship Nürburgring race, he failed to qualify at Vallelunga, Salzburgring and Hockenheim. Danny Sullivan then drove the M7 at Mugello, but also failed to qualify. The M7 was next seen with Lodge Corner Agencies (Crewe) in late 1977/early 1978, where it was joined by an M2 FSV car and an M1 monocoque. These were bought by Chris Davis and Anton Farmer, who started to rebuild the M7, but did not get very far. In 1986, the three-Modus package was bought by Marcus Pye and Tony Broster, who were in the process of starting the Toyota F3 Championship for pre-ground-effect F3 cars, and were looking for parts that would help owners get their cars running. The M1 and M2 went to Colin Painter but the M7 was retained until July 1987, when Marcus crashed his Argo JM6, and used the Modus M7 as part payment to Paul Fox for the repairs to the Argo. From Fox, the M7 somehow reached Terry Ludgrove, who had the car rebuilt to running condition by Tony Hansford. He ran the car in Historic F2, then in 2001 sold it to Mike Barnby (Chipstead). He ran it in Historic F2 until 2016, when he retired. The car was for sale in 2021.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.