Description:

• Complete rebuild by Lifetime Racing in 2021 and consistently maintained, including a 2024 engine rebuild delivering 302 bhp and 185 lb-ft of torque.

• Second in the 2022 European Historic Formula 2 Championship 2L class; fastest in two speed traps at Silverstone GP in 2023.

• Original FT200 gearbox, FIA HTP papers valid until 2032, and a comprehensive spares package included.

March Engineering, founded in 1969 by Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker, and Robin Herd, quickly established itself as a force in motorsport. The company was named after the initials of its founders’ first names and gained recognition for its innovative approach to race car design. Although best known for its success in Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3, March also made a significant impact in the world of sports car.

In the early 1970s, March entered the realm of sports car racing with designs that were both technically advanced and highly competitive. The March 707 and 717 were among its first ventures into Can-Am racing, a discipline that demanded high power and aerodynamically optimized chassis. Despite fierce competition from the likes of McLaren and Porsche, March cars managed to secure respectable finishes, earning a reputation for their engineering prowess.

March’s sports car ambitions expanded further with the 75S, designed for Group 5 racing. This model was lightweight and powered by a range of engines, allowing private teams to adapt the car to their preferences. The 75S demonstrated the company’s versatility and commitment to producing customer-friendly race cars, which became a hallmark of the March brand.

By the late 1970s, March solidified its position in Formula 2 with a series of highly competitive cars. The 78B and the 782 exemplified this era of success. The March 78B, a further development of the earlier 77B, was designed for Formula Atlantic racing but also saw success in other series. Its lightweight construction and aerodynamic efficiency made it a favorite among drivers seeking to make their mark in the sport. Meanwhile, the 782 became one of March’s most iconic Formula 2 cars. Powered by a BMW M12/7 engine, the 782 combined excellent chassis balance with cutting-edge aerodynamics, dominating the 1978 Formula 2 season and helping launch the careers of drivers like Bruno Giacomelli. These two models underscored March’s ability to innovate and succeed across different racing categories, leaving a lasting legacy in motorsport history.

March 78B Chassis 8 was purchased new by Robert J. Nelke of Roslyn/Woodbury, New York, for participation in the Labatts Formula Atlantic series and SCCA Nationals in 1978. Despite reports that Nelke raced it at Palm Beach in February and had it as a spare car at Long Beach in April, its SCCA registration number indicates that it was first used at Charlotte's Super-National in mid-April. Nelke was a regular mid-field runner, finishing 16th in the Labatts series and fifth in NEDiv, scoring 22 points.

For 1979, the car was passed to Paul Corazzo of Wethersfield, Connecticut, who campaigned the car in SCCA Nationals that year and presumably it was the ‘79B’ he had as late as 1987. The car was next seen in January 2004 when it was advertised from Virginia, having been raced in US historic racing in 1996 and subsequently acquired by Daryl Taylor. Taylor purchased Chassis 8 in a damaged state before rebuilding the car onto a new Richard Evans tub. The car was raced by Taylor in HSCC events from 2007 to 2014, during which time it was also driven by Bruce Fullerton, Simon Taylor, Ashley Taylor, Martin Trott, and Robert Wainwright.

In 2021, the car was purchased by the current owner and entrusted to the highly respected Dan Eagling of Lifetime Racing for a complete rebuild and conversion to 782 F2 BMW specification, ready for the 2022 season. Dressed in Ingo Hoffmann colours and in novice hands, the car achieved second in the 2L class of the European Historic Formula 2 Championship, then run by the HSCC, between Matthew Wrigley and Matthew Watts. Since its rebuild, the car has been continually maintained regardless of cost by Lifetime Racing and was quickest through two of three speed traps on Silverstone GP in 2023, proving its competitiveness.

Still retaining its original FT200 gearbox with Powerflow differential maintained by Mark Bailey, the car benefited from a complete engine rebuild in 2024 with Nemesis Racing, with the assistance of Lester Owen, and at 302 bhp and the highest torque seen from them in an M12/7 at 185 lb-ft, Chassis 8 should again be an extremely competitive choice for those looking for an immaculately maintained contender for any European or international Historic Formula 2 series.

For sale as the owner simply prefers racing his 73B, Chassis 8 comes accompanied by its FIA HTP papers, valid until 31 December 2032. A strong collection of spares is present, including numerous sets of spare MB wheels, two spare painted noses, and boxes of sundry running parts.

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