5 replies to this topic

[Jon Saltinstall]

Not seen this before - in October 1972, "Powerslide" reported that the Filipinetti team had announced big plans for 1973, stating its intention to run a March-BMW in the 2-litre European Championship for Makes, alongside an ex-works Ferrari 312P. Discussions were held with Niki Lauda (among others) as one of the possible drivers, with the retiring Vic Elford proposed as the race director.

 

March had developed the 732S as a means of fulfilling its engine quota order with BMW for 1973, but the Filipinetti connection had escaped me. I wonder how far this all progressed?

[Arjan de Roos]

No Filipinetti story of Ferrari/Lauda for 1973 is known to me. A good reference for this would be the Filipinetti book of Ed Heuvink. The team's history and the Parkes link would suggest it a likely thought. The book did not mention it I believe. 

Coulon did however race the March, yet mid 1973 all racing activities were brought to a halt. Sports Prototypes was raced with the Lola. 

[Michael Ferner]

Coulon did race an F2 March for Filipinetti, but did he also race a 73S?

[nexfast]

A good reference for this would be the Filipinetti book of Ed Heuvink. The team's history and the Parkes link would suggest it a likely thought. The book did not mention it I believe. 

. 

Indeed a good reference and I can confirm Heuvink does not mention it at all. He writes about the sport-prototype program:

 

" The prototype program for 1973 would be in line with the previous year. A two-liter Lola, model T292, would be used for the European two-liter championship and some French events. Two cars were entered for the 24-hour race in Le Mans. Jean-Louis Lafosse would be partnered by Gerard Pillon. Lafosse was also to drive the three-liter Lola T282 in all major World Championship events. The car would be colored blue, promoting Gitanes cigarettes. For these races Lafosse was to be partnered by Reine Wisell, and on some occasions Hughes de Fierlandt."

 

So, no trace of Ferrari, March, Elford or Lauda. The only March-BMW that appears in the story was the F2 car where since the Scuderia had no money to buy it (Heuvink dixit) it was bought by sponsor Antar and run by Filipinetti on its behalf. If Coulon run a March in 2-Liter racing, which I have no recollection, it was certainly not for Filipinetti.

Edited by nexfast, 17 August 2018 - 13:01.

[Tim Murray]

I’ve had a browse through Autosport for the last few months of 1972. First mention is in the 14 Sep issue, where it was rumoured that Filipinetti would be running a team of March 2-litre sports cars in 1973 with Vic Elford as team manager, possibly Niki Lauda as no 1 driver, and possibly also running a Ferrari 312P.

In the 28 Sep issue it was confirmed that Elford was retiring as a driver and would be acting as team manager for Scuderia Filipinetti. Filipinetti’s plans for 1973 were quite large, including running a team of 2-litre sports cars for Jacques Coulon and Niki Lauda, sponsored by Antar and a French cigarette company. ‘At least one’ Ferrari 312P would be run, the only confirmed driver being Jean-Louis Lafosse. The team would continue to do F3 with Philippe Albera and another driver. The G2 Fiat 128 programme would continue, and Mike Parkes would continue to run their R & D department.

In the 12 Oct issue the story had changed a bit. Now Elford was to set up his own operation based at Dijon in France, backed by Filipinetti and Antar. Elford claimed that he would have the March agency for the whole of Europe apart from the UK and Italy. The two ‘works’ March-BMW 2-litre sports cars would probably be based in one of the Filipinetti garages in Geneva. Elford said he’d been talking with March and some drivers about the possibility of a 3-litre team but was looking for confirmed sponsorship before continuing. No mention now of any Ferraris.

Nothing more in 1972. I’ll continue the quest into 1973 when time permits. Anyone got Elford’s autobiography?

[2F-001]

Having a gander through Elford's book... in the pages dealing with his post-driving career, he mentions the plan to run a 73S for Alain Peltier (as well as importing chassis - and engines and Hewland boxes - into France) but I cannot immediately see a reference to a venture with Filipinetti.
I'll try to read through it properly later.
I've had the book for quite a while but, like so many other volumes, I've as yet not had time to do more than dip into it; (attempts to cure my book-buying habit are not going well...).