March Engineering burst onto the racing scene in 1969, the team founded by Max Mosley, Robin Herd, Alan Rees and Graham Coaker. After starting with an F3 design, the team quickly moved into the bright lights of Formula One with a customer car supplied to Ken Tyrrell for star driver Jackie Stewart, along with works entries for Jo Siffert and Chris Amon. The following year saw a radical new design with aerodynamics by Frank Costin, driven by Ronnie Peterson without much success, while March continued to expand their operations to include customer racing cars in Formula 2, 3 and sports cars. It was a privateer - British-born Canadian John Cannon - who helped March move into Formula 5000, combining a March F2 chassis with Oldsmobile V8 power in 1972. Cannon first made an impact driving in the Formula 5000 series for the team owned by TV actor Dan Blocker, winning the 1970 US series title in a McLaren M10B. He also drove in the 1971 European Formula 2 Championship with some impressive results and even started in the US Formula One Grand Prix that year at the wheel of a BRM P153. Cannon had some good results in his hybrid during 1972 and went on to become one of the stalwarts of March's attempts to win in America. In 1973, the first official March F5000 customer car - the 73A - left the factory and six were ultimately made but the company never really got started in the category and their last F5000 car, the 76A, was made just three seasons later.

This March was originally delivered to John Cannon in time for its competitive debut at Long Beach, California in September 1975. Research indicates the car was based on an earlier 73A March that was rebuilt around a new monocoque, with 1975 Formula One suspension and the latest bodywork, with sponsorship from John Lane. Cannon then brought the car out to Australia for the 1976 Rothmans Formula 5000 series, finishing second overall that year with his best result being a win at Sandown in February. The car was sold to Graham Ritter in 1977 then passed through two further ownership changes in 1979 and 1986 before being acquired by the current owner in 2002. Beautifully presented in period 'Lane' sponsorship, this March is the ideal participant for the various Formula 5000 revival series taking place in Australia, New Zealand, America and Europe. With interest in the category at an all time high, finding a suitable car with good period history is becoming increasingly difficult and this vehicle represents an unrepeatable opportunity for the historic racing enthusiast. A certificate of description and log book application are currently being procesed by CAMS.