The Museu do Caramulo exhibition “The Fittipaldi Collection” has just welcomed a piece of great historical significance: the Williams March 711, chassis #711/3. This single-seater joins the existing collection as a direct link to the history of Formula 1, embodying a remarkable line-up of legendary names in the sport.
The story begins with Frank Williams, a young driver who achieved modest success in touring cars and Formula 3, and who was, above all, a self-made man. Williams built his career trading racing cars and components, while also working as a mechanic.
In 1966, he founded his own small team and acquired a Brabham to be driven by Piers Courage. Encouraging results soon followed, and the operation became increasingly serious. By 1971, Williams had purchased this March 711, chassis 711/3, to be driven by Henri Pescarolo under the banner of Frank Williams Racing Cars. With limited resources and few sponsors, the 1971 season proved difficult, with a fourth place at Silverstone as the team’s best result.
The following year, the team adopted the name Team Williams Motul, supported by the lubricant manufacturer and a new sponsor, Politoys. This enabled the purchase of a new March 721 for Pescarolo, while the previous season’s 711 was entrusted to José Carlos Pace, making his debut in Formula 1.
Pace had won a British Formula 3 series in 1970 and progressed to Formula 2 with Frank Williams the following year, in a season without points but with valuable experience. Although no longer a current model by 1972, the March 711 remained competitive enough for a newcomer to the top tier.
The car was designed by engineers Robin Herd (who also contributed to the development of the Concorde and had an illustrious career with McLaren and Brabham) and Geoff Ferris (later of Lotus, Brabham and Penske). Conceived to challenge the Lotus 72 and the V12s from Matra, BRM and Ferrari, the March made the most of the reliable Ford DFV engine, thanks to its refined engineering.
Its chassis was a monocoque with inboard front suspension. The radiators were mounted on the sides, following a layout similar to that of the Lotus 72, a project on which Ferris had previously worked alongside Maurice Philippe.
The most distinctive feature of the March 711 was its high-mounted front wing, conceived by Frank Costin. While effective in qualifying and when running alone, it tended to create instability when following another car closely.
The March 711 was used by three different teams and driven by several notable names, including Ronnie Peterson, Andrea de Adamich, Àlex Soler-Roig, Nanni Galli, Mike Beuttler, Niki Lauda and Gene Mason.
Carlos Pace’s best result with the March was a fifth place, earning his first three points in the championship. After two less successful seasons with Surtees, he went on to achieve a remarkable 1975 campaign driving the Brabham BT44 for the Martini Racing Team, including a memorable victory at Interlagos — a historic Brazilian one-two finish, with his childhood friend Emerson Fittipaldi second in the McLaren. It is out of Emerson’s enduring affection for his late friend and rival that the March 711/3 now forms part of this collection.
According to Emerson Fittipaldi, “This Williams March has enormous sentimental value for me. The first kart I ever raced was lent to me by Moco [José Carlos Pace], for whom I also worked as a mechanic. After winning the World Championship in 1972, I called Frank Williams and expressed my wish to buy Moco’s Williams March. And so we did — my brother Wilson and I acquired the car, and it has been part of our collection ever since. It is, without doubt, a car of great personal significance to me.”
The Williams March 711, chassis #711/3, thus joins the other single-seaters that make up “The Fittipaldi Collection”, following an extensive restoration and recovery process carried out with the continued support of AMSport, the CINFU (Professional Training Centre for the Foundry Industry), and VANTITEC, a company specialising in 3D metal and polymer printing and CNC machining.
“The Fittipaldi Collection” is on permanent display at the Museu do Caramulo, open from Tuesday to Sunday, during regular visiting hours.