The 1987 March F1 car was really just an March 86B F3000 chassis modified to accommodate a bigger fuel tank and with revised aerodynamics, mated with the Ford-engine, named March 87P. At the first race, the 1987 Brazilian Grand Prix, March had a team of just 17 people, including Mr Akagi, his girlfriend, his translator and Capelli's father. Engine tuner Heini Mader didn’t yet have a full-spec Cosworth DFZ ready, so the team used a World Sports Car Championship-spec engine that wasn’t very powerful. On the straights the turbos were coming past at least 60mph faster. The car blew its final DFZ engine in the warm up and Capelli did not start the race. The March 871 was introduced in San Marino. Capelli scored his first point at the 1987 Monaco Grand Prix. In the end he finished the season 19th in the Drivers' Championship and 4th in the Jim Clark Trophy.