March F1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80 (2024)

Born in 1939, Herd graduated from Oxford University with a double first in engineering and physics. He joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment, where he worked on the Concorde project. However, he had developed an interest in motor racing, and when in 1965 he was offered a job by Bruce McLaren he immediately agreed to join the Kiwi's new outfit.

Herd's first job was to design the M2A, which featured a novel mallite construction that he borrowed from the aircraft industry. The car made its debut as the M2B in Monaco in May 1966, but was let down by a heavy and gutless Ford engine, which had its roots at the Indy 500. The team experimented with an Italian Serenissima unit before switching back to the Ford.

McLaren opted for BRM power for 1967, but when the season stared the promised V12 wasn't available. Instead the team had to run a smaller 2.1-litre V8 in Herd's converted M4B chassis, until that was written off. When the V12 finally arrived it was run in the M5A at the end of the 1967 season.

Herd designed the chassis of the M7A for 1968 but then left the team to work for Cosworth. In the hands of his erstwhile assistant Gordon Coppuck, the M7A was developed into a race winner, scoring three grand prix victories that year.

March F1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80 (1)

Denny Hulme, McLaren M7A Ford

Photo by: LAT Images

Herd had been hired to create an advanced-looking 4WD F1 prototype for Cosworth, which was tested but ultimately never raced. Then in early 1969 he briefly worked for Frank Williams as engineer on Piers Courage's F1 Brabham.

Herd came close to joining forces with Bernie Ecclestone and Jochen Rindt to form an F1 team., but instead that year he hooked up with fellow Oxford graduate and gentleman racer Max Mosley, schoolfriend Alan Rees and Graham Coaker to form March Engineering. Their first car was the F3 693, given its debut by Ronnie Peterson at the end of 1969.

Despite this low-key start Herd and his colleagues had huge ambitions, and when they announced that they were creating an F1 car for 1970 there was some scepticism.

However, come the season opener at Kyalami there were five March 701s on the grid – three works entries for Mario Andretti, Chris Amon and Jo Siffert, and two for Jackie Stewart and Johnny Servoz-Gavin from Ken Tyrrell, who had split with Matra. Incredibly, Stewart took pole for that race and at the second round in Spain scored the marque's first victory.

Meanwhile, March had expanded rapidly in F2 and F3, and even built CanAm and Formula Ford cars.

March F1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80 (2)

Lella Lombardi, Vittorio Brambilla, Robin Herd, March Designer with the March 761

Photo by: LAT Images

March continued to run a sporadically successful works F1 team, while supplying customer cars to privateers, notably Frank Williams. Peterson finished runner-up in the 1971 world championship, despite not winning a race, while that same year Niki Lauda made his debut under Herd's wing. In 1973 James Hunt made his first GP start in a Hesketh-run March.

It wasn't until 1975 that the works outfit finally won a Grand Prix, Vittorio Brambilla triumphing in a rain-shortened race in Austria, with only half points awarded. The following year Peterson returned, and soon became a regular frontrunner, scoring an undisputed victory at Monza.

By 1977 March had run out of momentum in F1, and the works outfit was sold to ATS. However, its customer business continued to thrive. From 1981 the company made big steps in Indycar racing, taking on longtime rival Lola, and supplying the likes of Roger Penske. March chassis would win the Indy 500 each year from 1983 to 1987 in the hands of Tom Sneva, Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Sr. Adrian Newey was one of many young engineers who gained valuable experience under Herd's guidance.

In 1981 the March name returned to F1 in partnership with John McDonald's RAM team, but with little in the way of success. In 1987 Herd formed a partnership with Leyton House.

Eventually March hit financial problems, and after Herd sold his interest he set up his own consultancy business. His last active involvement in the sport was with an IRL team in the late nineties. Instead he focussed with considerable success on other business interests, and for a while he was chairman of Oxford United FC.

March F1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80 (3)

Mike Costin, Cosworth 4 wheel drive F1, designer Robin Herd

Photo by: David Phipps

March F1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80 (2024)

FAQs

March F1 team co-founder Robin Herd dies aged 80? ›

In what is already proving to be a sad year for Formula 1, we have received news that Robin Herd, a former designer for the McLaren Formula 1 team

McLaren Formula 1 team
McLaren is best known as a Formula One chassis constructor, the second oldest active team and the second most successful Formula One team after Ferrari, having won 183 races, 12 Drivers' Championships and 8 Constructors' Championships.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › McLaren
and founding member of March Engineering, has died aged 80.

Did Robin Herd pass away? ›

Robert John "Robin" Herd CBE (23 March 1939 – 4 June 2019) was an English engineer, designer and businessman.

When was Robin Herd born? ›

Robin Herd(1939-2019)

Robin Herd was born on 23 March 1939 in England, UK. He died on 4 June 2019 in the UK.

How long has F1 been around? ›

The new World Championship was instituted to commence in 1950. The first world championship race took place at Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom on 13 May 1950. Giuseppe Farina, competing for Alfa Romeo, won the first Drivers' World Championship, narrowly defeating his teammate Juan Manuel Fangio.

When did Robin pass away? ›

Robin Williams/InstagramThree weeks before Robin Williams' death by suicide inside his California home on August 11, 2014, he posted this photo on Instagram to celebrate his 63rd birthday. It was the last picture he'd ever share with his fans before his tragic death.

When was Robin Thicke born? ›

Robin Thicke was born on March 10, 1977 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

What is the oldest active F1 team? ›

Ferrari (1950-present)

Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1947, Ferrari is the oldest active team in the FIA F1 world championships, having taken part in every championship since 1950. Arguably, the Ferrari team is the most successful F1 team ever, in every aspect.

What is the oldest current F1 track? ›

Known as the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italian, the track was inaugurated for public use more than a century ago, on September 3, 1922.

How many years old is F1? ›

Formula One automobile racing has its roots in the European Grand Prix championships of the 1920s and 1930s, though the foundation of the modern Formula One began in 1946 with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's (FIA) standardisation of rules, which was followed by a World Championship of Drivers in 1950.

Are F1 cars faster than 20 years ago? ›

The previous generation of cars are still faster at most venues but, in some cases, even older cars still hold the records, thanks to their powerful V10s and lower levels of downforce that made for better top speeds.

Who won the first F1 race in history? ›

Silverstone, May 1950: Alfa Romeo's Giuseppe Farina celebrates victory in the first ever Formula One world championship race, the British Grand Prix.

When was F1 first televised? ›

The British Broadcasting Corporation first began televising Formula One during the 1950s in which it provided reviews and highlights of various races within the Formula One seasons. Full F1 races only began to be broadcast during the 1960's and were never displayed live.

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