1975 : F5000 March 74A
Having sold his second Capri to Martin Birrane the reigning Supersaloon champion found himself without a drive for 1975 after losing his Tricentrol sponsorship. Mick had purchased the Mike Wilds F5000 March with a view to using it as the basis for his next saloon creation but with low funds he decided to race it in its single seater form. Quite what Hill`s shelved saloon plan was isn`t known. As Kettlewell`s directory phrased it `Despite the car`s lack of real competitiveness and the limited financial expenditure possible an interesting and indeed enlightening season ensued.`
Like a big kid with a new toy Mick is happy having bought Mike Wilds` March. Mick contested 11 rounds of the Shellsport British F5000 championship and let Wilds race the last 2 rounds of the year before selling the car Bill Blackledge in Jamaca. The would be Mick`s only season in a true single seater but later hybrid saloon/GT cars he built would have a central driving position.
Mike Wilds ( in car ) had made the step up from F5000 into F1 at the end of 1974 with a one-off drive in an Ensign. He was signed by the BRM team for 1975 and raced in the first 2 rounds before being dropped as the famous old team disappeared altogether. Wilds didnt race F1 again but went on to have a long and varied career including Le Mans and until recently still raced in Historic races. Mick gave Mike a guest drive race in his Beetle Supersaloon in 1977.
More history on this particular chassis can be found on the Old Racing Cras website via the link :