 | |||||||||
| Category | IMSA GTP Group C | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | March Engineering | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Gordon Coppuck | ||||||||
| Predecessor | March 85G | ||||||||
| Successor | March 87G | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque, reinforced at key points with carbon fibre honeycomb, and a steel tube sub frame | ||||||||
| Engine | BMW M12/14 2 litre turbo straight-four, Buick 3 liter turbo V6, Buick 4.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6, Nissan VG30ET V6 mid engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland 5 Speed LSD | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | BMW North America, Nismo Racing, Momo Course, Hoshino Racing, Hasemi Motorsport, HP Racing, Conte Racing, Person Racing Team | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | Davy Jones John Andretti David Hobbs John Watson | ||||||||
| Debut | 1986 Grand Prix of Miami | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Teams' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The March 86G was a Group C and IMSA GTP sports racing car built by March Engineering. Built as simply a chassis with no engine, it was branded as one of three cars, the BMW GTP, the Buick Hawk or the Nissan R86V depending on which engine was placed in the chassis and which team was running it. There were a number of subtle bodywork changes to reflect the manufacturer which ran the car.
11 of the chassis were built, four sold to BMW, five to Nissan and a remaining three were sold to private teams affiliated with Buick. The car was used from 1986 until early 1989, scoring one race victory in the hands of the BMW team in 1986, and 5 pole positions in the hands of Nissan.
Unlike normally done with yearly-updated racing chassis, the 86G found a lot of use after the 87G model was released, the Buick Hawk being developed in 1987, the Pearson Racing Team, Hoshino Racing Team and Hasemi Motorsport using their older R86V cars in the 1987 JSPC season, the Person Racing Team updating the car to a March 88S in 1988 and Nissan Motorsport themselves modifying two cars to R88C designation in 1989, with varying degrees of longevity and success.
| Chassis | Car Brand(s) | Years Ran | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86G-1 | BMW GTP | 1986 | IMSA Camel GT |
| 86G-2 | BMW GTP | 1986 | IMSA Camel GT |
| 86G-3 | BMW GTP | 1986 | IMSA Camel GT |
| 86G-4 | BMW GTP - Buick Hawk | 1986, 1987, 1988 | IMSA Camel GT |
| 86G-5 | Nissan R86V - Nissan R88C | 1986–87, 1989 | JSPC - WEC |
| 86G-6 | Nissan R86V | 1986 | JSPC - WEC |
| 86G-7 | Nissan R86V - Nissan R88C | 1986–87, 1989 | JSPC - WEC |
| 86G-8 | Nissan R86V - March 88S | 1986–88 | JSPC - WEC |
| 86G-9 | BMW GTP - Buick Hawk | 1988 | IMSA Camel GT |
| 86G-10 | BMW GTP - Buick Hawk | 1988 | IMSA Camel GT |
| 86G-11 | Buick Hawk | 1987–88 | IMSA Camel GT |