Editing Formula Two (section)

=== 2.0-litre era (1972–1984) ===
In 1972, the formula was changed to increase power by permitting 2.0 L production-based engines—Cosworth BDs and BMW four-cylinder engines dominated the early years, with BMW-powered Marches gradually establishing dominance. For 1976, engines developed purely for racing were permitted to compete, with [[Renault]] developing a particularly potent V6; allied to a sponsorship scheme from oil company Elf the formula was briefly dominated by French teams and drivers; BMW started to back a works March team and raised the stakes in the late-Seventies. Even the [[Ferrari]] engine returned briefly with minimal success. The [[Hart (racing)|Hart]] 420R (ultimately derived from the Cosworth BDA) was briefly successful in Marches and Team Surtees won the European F2 Championship in 1972 with Hart engines, driver Mike Hailwood, but most notably in the works [[Toleman]] team's cars. Dominant chassis of this era were generally from [[March Engineering|March]] and [[Ralt]], with Chevron, the French Elf and [[Martini (cars)|Martinis]] and German [[Maurer Motorsport (Germany)|Maurers]] being briefly successful.

[[Honda]] returned to Formula Two in the early 1980s with a powerful V6, but this was very much a ''works'' engine and the cost of competing with the works Ralt-Honda team became prohibitive. As a result, grids diminished in size and declining interest in the series threatened it with extinction.