Team story
Origins
René Arnoux and Tico Martini arrived in Formula 1 in 1978 after success in junior formulae. The MK23 was a single-seater from the French constructor, not a team created by the drinks brand that sponsored other cars. Hugues de Chaunac handled its sporting management.
Begun before the debut, the project entered the World Championship as ground effect was changing technical priorities.
The Formula 1 journey
Arnoux failed to qualify on his first attempt at Kyalami and did not clear pre-qualifying at Monaco. At Zolder he finally secured a start and was ninth. Another ninth place came in Austria, but points remained out of reach.
The season was cut short after only a few appearances: engine and fuel-system problems had taken time away from an already slow car.
Historical timeline
Three chapters in the story of Martini
Three episodes to revisit the people, cars and races that shaped this journey.
First appearance · Belgian Grand Prix
René Arnoux · Belgian Grand Prix 1978. The recorded position is P9; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This is the first recorded race start, or the first entry if the team never started a race.
Sporting landmark · Belgian Grand Prix
René Arnoux · Belgian Grand Prix 1978. The recorded position is P9; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This marks the first win or podium where one exists, otherwise the highest recorded placing for this constructor.
Latest recorded appearance · Dutch Grand Prix
René Arnoux · Dutch Grand Prix 1978. The recorded outcome is DNF. This is the last race start attributed to this constructor in the archive, not necessarily the end of the organisation behind it.
A distinctive way of racing
The monocoque drew on aspects of the Formula 2 MK22, modified for the larger fuel load. Martini used the Cosworth DFV, a Hewland gearbox and Goodyear tyres; the structure was robust but heavy. Revising the oil cooler improved reliability during the summer, without turning the MK23 into a car capable of regularly challenging the new ground-effect designs.
What remains
Martini returned its focus to the categories in which it had built its reputation. For Arnoux, that brief season preceded a move to Renault and a much longer career. The MK23 chassis was preserved and later displayed at Magny-Cours.
Its historical value lies in a genuine attempt to move up a category, distinct both from the smaller Martini cars’ successes and from sponsorship carrying the same name.