Automobiles Martini Explained

Martini
Long Name:Automobiles Martini
Base:Magny-Cours, France
Founders:Renato Martini,
Bill Knight
Drivers: René Arnoux
Engines:Ford Cosworth DFV V8
Debut:1978 South African Grand Prix
Races:9 (4 starts)
Cons Champ:0
Drivers Champ:0
Wins:0
Podiums:0
Points:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0
Last Race:1978 Dutch Grand Prix

Automobiles Martini is a constructor of Formula racing cars from France, founded by Renato "Tico" Martini in 1965, when Martini and partner Bill Knight founded the Winfield Racing School at the Magny-Cours circuit, in France. Martini's first car was the MW1 in 1967, a single seater for the racing driving school, from which was derived a Formula Three car, MW1A built in 1968.

Although better known for their successful efforts in Formula Three, Formula Renault and other lower formulae during the 1970s and 1980s, they are also known for having taken part in nine rounds of the 1978 Formula One season with the single MK23 chassis, giving René Arnoux (later a driver for Renault and Ferrari) his debut in Formula One. Future four time World Drivers' Champion Alain Prost also used a Renault powered Martini to win the 1978 and 1979 French Formula Three Championship while driving for French team Oreca.

With Reynard, Ralt and Dallara crowding out the F3 market in the late 1980s, Martini reduced their customer program, keeping a stubborn presence in the French F3 championship during the 1990s, until Tico Martini finally sold the company to Guy Ligier in 2004.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

YearEntrantChassisEngineDriversNo.12345678910111213141516WDCPoints
Automobiles MartiniMK23Ford Cosworth DFVARGBRARSAUSWMONBELESPSWEFRAGBRGERAUTNEDITAUSACANNC0
René Arnoux31DNQDNPQ9WD14WDDNPQ9Ret

Major titles

Racecars

Year Racing car Racing Series Picture
1967-1969Martini MW1Racing school
1968Martini MW1A
1969Martini MW2
1969Martini MW2AFormula Libre (hillclimbing)
1969Martini MW3
1969Martini MW3A
1970Martini MK4
1970Martini MK4ARacing school
1970 Martini MK5
1970 Martini MK5A
1971Martini MK6
1971 Martini MK7
1972 Martini MK8
1972Martini MK9
1972Martini MK9AFormula Atlantic
1972 Martini MK10
1973Martini MK11
1973Martini MK12Formula 3
1973Martini MK12ERacing school
1973Martini MK13Cancelled Formula 2
1974 Martini MK14
1975 Martini MK15NFormula Renault nationale
1975 Martini MK15E
1975 Martini MK16
1976 Martini MK17Formula Renault nationale
1976 Martini MK18
1976 Martini MK19
1977 Martini MK20NFormula Renault nationale
1977 Martini MK20E
1977 Martini MK21
1977 Martini MK22
1978 Martini MK21B
1978 Martini MK23
1978 Martini MK24
1978 Martini MK25Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1979 Martini MK26
1979 Martini MK27
1979 Martini MK28Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1979 Martini MK29Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1980 Martini MK26ERacing driving school
1980 Martini MK30
1980 Martini MK31Formula 3
1981 Martini MK32Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1981 Martini MK33
1981 Martini MK34
1981 Martini MK35Formula Super Vee
1982 Martini MK36
1982 Martini MK37
1983 Martini MK38
1983 Martini MK39
1983 Martini M001
1984 Martini MK41
1984 Martini MK42
1984 Martini MK43Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1984 Martini M002
1985 Martini MK44
1985 Martini MK45
1985 Martini MK47
1986 Martini MK48
1986 Martini MK49
1987 Martini MK50
1987 Martini MK51
1987 Martini MK52
1987 Martini MK53Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1988 Martini MK54
1988 Martini MK55
1988 Martini MK56Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1989 Martini MK57
1989 Martini MK58Formula 3
1990 Martini MK59
1990 Martini MK60
1991 Martini MK61
1991 Martini MK62Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1992 Martini MK63
1992 Martini MK64Peugeot 905 Spider
1993-1994 Martini MK65
1993 Martini MK66Sport Prototype 3000
1993 Martini MK67Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1993 Martini MK68Peugeot 905 Spider
1994 Martini MK69Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1995 Martini MK70Racing school
1995 Martini MK71
1996 Martini MK72
1996 Martini MK73
1996 Martini MK74Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1996 Martini MK75Racing school
1997 Martini MK76
1997 Martini MK77Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1998 Martini MK78Sport Prototype
1999 Martini MK79
2000 Martini MK80
2000 Martini MK81Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
?Martini MK82Hillclimbing

References

External links