Estimated Price: £80,000 - £100,000

March Engineering was an F1 constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars, based in Bicester, Oxfordshire and whilst their success in F1 was limited, March achieved significant success in other categories, including Formula 2, Formula 3,  Formula Ford, IndyCar, and IMSA GTP sportscar racing.

March Engineering began operations in 1969, founded by Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker, and Robin Herd, the initials of their surnames being the source of the company name. Each founder had a specific area of expertise: Mosley managed the commercial side, Rees oversaw the racing team, Coaker handled production at the Bicester factory, and Herd was the designer. Later, Adrian Newey, renowned for his innovative designs, joined March F1 in 1987 and designed the March-Judd 881.

The 1978 Formula 2 season was notable for March and its 782 chassis, being a ‘clean-sweep’, winning 11 out of the 12 races with Bruno Giacomelli topping the leaderboard in a Works 782 and with Marc Surer finishing second, also driving a 782 chassis.

As part of this season, Toleman Group Motorsport entered Formula 2, running a pair of privateer March 782s, including a BMW powered car for the South African rising-star, and future Toleman stalwart, Rad Dougall - #782-002. Dougall participated in nine races that season, securing one podium finish and accumulating five points to end the year 13th in the drivers' standings.

At the end of 1978, chassis #782-002 was bought by Paul Smith, the then managing director of tyre business BMTR, a keen racing driver, who went on to compete in European Formula 2 and at Le Mans. Smith converted #782-002 to Formula Atlantic spec (running a Ford BDA 1,600cc engine) with the intention of competing in the 1979 British Formula Atlantic championship, but he crashed the car pre-season at Mallory Park. Paul subsequently built a new car with which to compete in that championship that year and #782-002 was subsequently put to one side, before being repaired at the end of the year and rebranded #782-002. It then passed through numerous owners and during this phase was returned to F2-specification, with a correct BMW M12/7 engine installed, achieving historic F2 status with the necessary HTP papers being issued. The car was later owned by F2 racer, Richard Ellingworth, who’s ‘incident’ at Spa in 2016 necessitated the fitment of a brand-new Richard Evans monocoque, ensuring that the car felt as stiff and as agile as new, if not even more so.

Our vendor bought the car from Richard in early 2017 and competed in just one race meeting at Silverstone, before commissioning a comprehensive engine and gearbox rebuild. BMW engine specialists Ridgeway Engineering rebuilt the engine, and JP Engineering rebuilt the gearbox. Upon completion, the car has only completed c.100 miles of testing, whilst also benefiting from a new bag tank, exhaust system (with optional silencer), and fresh HTP papers this year (2026). Due to his ill-health and consequential retirement from racing, our vendor (an accomplished driver with Gp6 Sportscars, Thundersports, F3000 and Le Mans on his CV) now feels that it’s the right time to part with the car.

This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a well-respected March F2 machine, one with real provenance, recent investment and much potential to compete at the front of the grid. From 2024 there was fresh new look for Historic Formula 2 following the extension of the partnership between the Historic Sports Car Club and French promoter HVM Racing. The F2 Classic Interseries is the result, and the category will have a superb five-event, ten-race schedule at the best circuits and events in European historic racing, as well as in the well-known Derek Bell Trophy races. This well prepared and smartly presented March 782 would undoubtedly be very welcome.