March 712
{{Short description|Open-wheel Formula 2 race car}}{{Racing car
| name = March 712
March 712M
| image = March 712 - James Hunt - panoramio.jpg
| caption = March 712 of James Hunt
| predecessor = March 702
| successor = March 722
| drivers = {{flagicon|SWE}}Ronnie Peterson
{{flagicon|UK}}James Hunt
{{flagicon|UK}}Derek Bell
| engine name = Ford-Cosworth FVA Straight-four engine
BMW M12/7 Straight-four engine
| debut = 1971
| drivers champ = {{F2|1971}} (Ronnie Peterson)
| team = March Engineering
Frank Williams Racing Cars
| poles = 8 (European F2 Championship races only)
| wins = 5 (European F2 Championship races only)
}}File:March 712M - James Hunt (27422859643).jpg
The March 712 (and its derivative, the March 712M) was an open-wheel Formula 2 race car, designed, developed and built by British manufacturer March, in 1971. It was very successful, with Swede Ronnie Peterson winning the 1971 European F2 Championship season in a Cosworth-powered 712. Peterson won 5 races that season, and took 6 podium finishes, as well as taking 7 pole positions, and 5 fastest laps. Peterson finished the championship in first place, with 54 points. Austrian Dieter Quester, also driving a March 712, finished the championship in third place, with 31 points, driving a BMW-powered 712. The 712 was powered by either a Ford-Cosworth FVA, or a BMW M12/7; which were both naturally-aspirated {{cvt|1.6|L|cuin}} four-cylinder engines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oldracingcars.com/f2/1971/|title=Formula 2 1971 « OldRacingCars.com|first=Allen|last=Brown|website=OldRacingCars.com}} A sister variant of the car, called the March 71B (and its derivative, the March 71BM), was the Formula B (Atlantic) version of the car.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oldracingcars.com/march/71bm/|title=March 71BM car-by-car histories|first=Allen|last=Brown|website=OldRacingCars.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/110744/march-712-f2-price-reduced|title=MARCH 712 F2 (PRICE REDUCED)|website=racecarsdirect.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/118240/march-712-f2|title=March 712 F2|website=racecarsdirect.com}}