Product Description

F1 Authentics is proud to bring to market this exceptional March Engineering Leyton House 881 Show Car, decorated in the 1989 liveries and sponsors as seen on the F1 car that competed in the first three Grands Prix of the season. 

The 881 was designed by Adrian Newey; he arrived at March Engineering F1 Team in 1987 - it marked the beginning of a car design revolution which has affected F1 engineering to present day. His designs have played a significant role in the successes of the Williams, McLaren and Red Bull Racing teams. 

The March 881 with Judd V8 engine became Newey's focus, with aerodynamics proving a paramount factor in the car's performance. The car, built for the 1988 season, was small, aggressive and introduced features that had not been seen in earlier designs including the raised nose, effective diffusers and sculptured wing endplates. 

The March 881 was raced by March Engineering in the 1988 season by Italian driver Ivan Capelli and the debuting Maurício Gugelmin from Brazil. The car's best result was a second place driven by Capelli at the 1988 Portuguese Grand Prix. It then featured in three races of the 1989 season. 

The March 881 In Action  The March 881 used the Judd V8 engine and was consistently the fastest speed trapped 'atmo' car of the 1988 season, with Capelli clocked at a class fastest 312 km/h (194 mph) on the first straight at Hockenheim for the German Grand Prix.  

Capelli and his March 881 was the only non-turbo car/driver combination in 1988 to lead a Grand Prix, when he briefly took the lead from Alain Prost in his McLaren-Honda as they crossed the start-finish line on lap 16 of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. This was also the first time since the 1983 season that a naturally aspirated car had led a Formula One race. 

Capelli finished the season in 7th place with 17 points, meanwhile Gugelmin impressed, finishing his debut season in 13th place with 5 points. March finished the year 6th in the Constructors' Championship with 22 points.  In 1989, the team's car - the CG891 - was only ready in time for the third race of the season, and only for one driver.

This meant that the team ran the March 881 for the first three races - the Brazilian and San Marino Grands Prix, plus one car at the Monaco Grand Prix. Gugelmin drove the 881 to third place at his home race in Brazil, close behind the Ferrari of Nigel Mansell and the McLaren-Honda of Prost. 

This show car was used as a full-size wind tunnel car during the development of the 881; its chassis has not competed in any races and was used by Leyton House March Engineering F1 Team for promotion and display purposes. The chassis doesn't have a PU.  It also features many original parts, believed to be GRP test moulding for the subsequent carbon tubs, the wheels, suspension, brake discs, the bodywork and the wings.

The rear suspension is hung from an original gearbox casing, and it has a correct steering wheel and original instrumentation.   This is not a replica but an amalgamation of factory March-Judd 881 parts that have been put together to celebrate a great engineering of this spectacular car. 

More imagery available upon request   


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