6 MARCH 711
BEST RESULT 2ND 1971 MONACO, BRITISH, ITALIAN, AND CANADIAN GPS BEST QUALIFYING 5TH SUPERTIME POSITION 7TH DESIGNER ROBIN HERD AND FRANK COSTIN
ARGUABLY THE UGLIEST CAR ON THIS LIST, THE March 711 is probably the only one that could be said to have overperformed. Given that March was only the seventh-fastest team on supertimes and failed to score a pole, despite having rising star Ronnie Peterson on its books, fourth in the 1971 constructors’ championship must be considered a success.
Crucially, the car was reliable, allowing Peterson to benefit from his spectacular press-on style. Often a major threat in races, Peterson scored five podiums on his way to the runner-up spot.
The 711 has the distinction of coming closer to a GP victory than any car on this list, Peterson losing out to Peter Gethin’s BRM by 0.01 seconds in the famous five-car finish in the Italian GP at Monza.
Peterson also starred in the wet Canadian GP at Mosport, charging up from row three to battle the Tyrrell of Jackie Stewart for the lead. They swapped places several times and were still together when Peterson tripped over a backmarker at half-distance, damaging the March. He continued to finish second, but there was no chance of catching Stewart.
And so the 711, almost certainly a better car than the 701, failed to follow in the Gp-winning wheeltracks of its predecessor. It would be another four years before March won again.
“The 711 came closer to a win than any other car on this list”