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.

Martini
Full nameAutomobiles Martini
BaseMagny-Cours, France
Founder(s)Renato Martini,
Bill Knight
Noted driversFrance René Arnoux
Formula One World Championship career
First entry1978 South African Grand Prix
Races entered9 (4 starts)
EnginesFord Cosworth DFV V8
Constructors'
Championships
0
Drivers'
Championships
0
Race victories0
Podiums0
Points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
Final entry1978 Dutch Grand Prix

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

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points
1978 Automobiles Martini MK23 Ford Cosworth DFV ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN NC 0
  René Arnoux 31 DNQ DNPQ 9 WD 14 WD DNPQ 9 Ret

Major titles

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Racecars

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Year Racing car Racing Series Picture
1967-1969 Martini MW1 Racing school
1968 Martini MW1A Formula 3
1969 Martini MW2 Formula France
1969 Martini MW2A Formula Libre (hillclimbing)
1969 Martini MW3 Formula 3
1969 Martini MW3A Formula Ford
1970 Martini MK4 Formula France
1970 Martini MK4A Racing school
1970 Martini MK5 Formula 3
1970 Martini MK5A Formula 3
1971 Martini MK6 Formula Renault
1971 Martini MK7 Formula 3
1972 Martini MK8 Formula Renault
1972 Martini MK9 Formula 3
1972 Martini MK9A Formula Atlantic
1972 Martini MK10 Formula Renault
1973 Martini MK11 Formula Renault
1973 Martini MK12 Formula 3  
1973 Martini MK12E Racing school
1973 Martini MK13 Cancelled Formula 2
1974 Martini MK14 Formula Renault
1975 Martini MK15N Formula Renault nationale  
1975 Martini MK15E Formule Renault Europe [fr]
1975 Martini MK16 Formula 2
1976 Martini MK17 Formula Renault nationale
1976 Martini MK18 Formule Renault Europe [fr]
1976 Martini MK19 Formula 2
1977 Martini MK20N Formula Renault nationale
1977 Martini MK20E Formule Renault Europe [fr]
1977 Martini MK21 Formula 3
1977 Martini MK22 Formula 2
1978 Martini MK21B Formula 3
1978 Martini MK23 Formula 1
1978 Martini MK24 Formula Renault
1978 Martini MK25 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1979 Martini MK26 Formula Renault
1979 Martini MK27 Formula 3
1979 Martini MK28 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1979 Martini MK29 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1980 Martini MK26E Racing driving school
1980 Martini MK30 Formula Renault
1980 Martini MK31 Formula 3  
1981 Martini MK32 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1981 Martini MK33 Formula Renault
1981 Martini MK34 Formula 3
1981 Martini MK35 Formula Super Vee
1982 Martini MK36 Formula Renault
1982 Martini MK37 Formula 3  
1983 Martini MK38 Formula Renault
1983 Martini MK39 Formula 3
1983 Martini M001 Formula 2
1984 Martini MK41 Formula Renault
1984 Martini MK42 Formula 3
1984 Martini MK43 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)  
1984 Martini M002 Formula 2
1985 Martini MK44 Formula Renault
1985 Martini MK45 Formula 3
1985 Martini MK47 Formula Super Vee
1986 Martini MK48 Formula Renault
1986 Martini MK49 Formula 3
1987 Martini MK50 Formula Super Vee
1987 Martini MK51 Formula Renault
1987 Martini MK52 Formula 3
1987 Martini MK53 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1988 Martini MK54 Formula Renault
1988 Martini MK55 Formula 3
1988 Martini MK56 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1989 Martini MK57 Formula Renault
1989 Martini MK58 Formula 3  
1990 Martini MK59 Formula Renault
1990 Martini MK60 Formula 3
1991 Martini MK61 Formula Renault
1991 Martini MK62 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)  
1992 Martini MK63 Formula Renault
1992 Martini MK64 Peugeot 905 Spider
1993-1994 Martini MK65 Formula Renault  
1993 Martini MK66 Sport Prototype 3000  
1993 Martini MK67 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1993 Martini MK68 Peugeot 905 Spider
1994 Martini MK69 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)  
1995 Martini MK70 Racing school
1995 Martini MK71 Formula Renault
1996 Martini MK72 Formula Renault  
1996 Martini MK73 Formula 3
1996 Martini MK74 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1996 Martini MK75 Racing school
1997 Martini MK76 Formula Renault  
1997 Martini MK77 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)
1998 Martini MK78 Sport Prototype
1999 Martini MK79 Formula 3
2000 Martini MK80 Formula 3
2000 Martini MK81 Formula 2 (Hillclimbing)  
? Martini MK82 Hillclimbing  

References

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  • Grand Prix encyclopedia profile
  • Formula One results
  • Martini, Histoire des automobiles de courses Martini, Tome 1 1967-1973, Gérard Gamand, Editions Autodiva, ISBN 978-2-9546893-4-0
  • Martini, Histoire des automobiles de courses Martini, Tome 2 1974-1985, Gérard Gamand, Editions Autodiva, ISBN 978-2-9546893-6-4
  • A-Z of Formula Racing Cars, David Hodges, Bay View Books, ISBN 1-870979-16-8
  • Formule Renault Story 1971-2000, Christian Courtel, Wake-upp Editions, ISBN 2-910824-05-5
  • Formule Renault, de la Formule France au turbo, Christian Courtel, Editions ACLA
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