Ferrari 312

Last updated
Ferrari 312
Ferrari 312 - 002.jpg
Category Formula One
Constructor Scuderia Ferrari
Designer(s) Mauro Forghieri
Predecessor 246 F1-66
Successor 312B
Technical specifications
Chassis Aluminium monocoque
Suspension (front) Double wishbone, inboard spring/damper
Suspension (rear)Twin trailing links, upper lateral links, lower reversed A-arms
Engine 2,989 cc (182.4 cu in), 60° V12, naturally aspirated, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Ferrari Type 589, 5-speed, manual
Fuel Shell
Tyres Early '66 Dunlop
Mid '66-69 Firestone
Competition history
Notable entrants Scuderia Ferrari
Notable drivers Flag of Italy.svg Lorenzo Bandini
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Surtees
Flag of Italy.svg Ludovico Scarfiotti
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx
Debut1966
RacesWins Poles F/Laps
38373
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Ferrari 312 F1 was the designation of the 3 litre V-12 (hence 312) Formula One cars raced by the Italian team from 1966 to 1969.

Contents

Overview

Naming

Designed under the leadership of Mauro Forghieri, there were two distinct variations using this designation, the 1966 version and the completely different 1967-69 version. The '66 cars carried on the chassis numbering sequence from the previous year's 1.5 litre cars, while the '67 cars began a new sequence at "0001". To avoid confusion, the cars are commonly referred to as 312 F1-66, 312 F1-67 etc.

1966

For the 1966 Formula One season, there was a change in the technical regulations, now allowing 3 litre engines. The F1 teams, even though asking for "the return to power", were more or less surprised and not well prepared.

Lorenzo Bandini (1935-1967) at the 1966 German Grand Prix. Bandini, Lorenzo - Ferrari-12-Zylinder 1966.jpg
Lorenzo Bandini (1935–1967) at the 1966 German Grand Prix.
Jacky Ickx at the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix. Ickx at 1968 Dutch Grand Prix.jpg
Jacky Ickx at the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix.

Ferrari's first 1966 car consisted of a 3.3-litre V12 engine that was taken from the Ferrari 275P2 sportscar prototypes, modified to 3000cc, and mounted in the back of an F1 chassis. The designation 312, which would be used for a number of later cars, indicated a 3-litre, 12-cylinder engine. The engine was rather heavy, and due to the reduced capacity, lower on power and especially torque. John Surtees drove this contraption unsuccessfully in Monaco while Lorenzo Bandini drove a Ferrari Dino 2.4-litre V6. Surtees won the second race, the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix, a track that favoured power with its long straights, but the 1964 champion departed after a row with manager Eugenio Dragoni. The issue was about priorities in racing, as Ferrari was under pressure from Ford in sports car racing, and the F1 effort was somewhat neglected. Mike Parkes replaced Surtees, who went to Cooper which used Maserati engines, to finish second in the driver championship with a further win. For Ferrari, Ludovico Scarfiotti also won a race, the 1966 Italian Grand Prix at Monza which helped Ferrari finish second in the Constructors' Championship. [1]

1967

In 1967, the team fired Dragoni and replaced him with Franco Lini. Chris Amon partnered Bandini to drive a somewhat improved version of the 1966 V12 car. At the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, Bandini crashed and suffered heavy injuries when he was trapped under his burning car; several days later he succumbed to his injuries. Ferrari re-hired Mike Parkes, but Parkes suffered career-ending injuries weeks later at the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix. Several accidents, a fatality, no race win, and only 5th in the Constructors' Championship marked a bad year for Ferrari. In addition, the new Ford Cosworth DFV engine that had its debut in the Lotus 49 would dominate F1 in the 15 years to come. [2]

1968

1969

During 1969 Enzo Ferrari set about wisely spending his new-found wealth to revive his struggling team; though Ferrari did compete in Formula One in 1969, it was something of a throwaway season while the team was restructured. Amon continued to drive an older model and Pedro Rodríguez took Jacky Ickx's place; at the end of the year Amon left the team which once again had no race wins and was only ranked 5th in the Constructors' Championship. [4]

The car was succeeded by the 312B which was introduced for the 1970 Formula One season.

Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantEngineTyresDrivers123456789101112PointsWCC
1966 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 3.0 V12 F
D
MON BEL FRA GBR NED GER ITA USA MEX 31 1 2nd
John Surtees Ret1
Lorenzo Bandini NC66RetRet
Mike Parkes 2RetRet2
Ludovico Scarfiotti 1
1967 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 3.0 V12 F RSA MON NED BEL FRA GBR GER CAN ITA USA MEX 205th
Lorenzo Bandini Ret
Chris Amon 343Ret3367Ret9
Mike Parkes 5Ret
Ludovico Scarfiotti 6NC
Jonathan Williams 8
1968 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 3.0 V12 F RSA ESP MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 324th
Jacky Ickx RetRet341343DNSRet
Chris Amon 4RetRet6102RetRetRetRetRet
Andrea de Adamich Ret
Derek Bell RetRet
1969 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 3.0 V12 F RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 76th
Chris Amon RetRetRet3RetRet
Ernesto Brambilla DNS
Pedro Rodríguez Ret6
North American Racing Team Ret57

PC Simulation

In 1998, a drivable, detailed virtual recreation of the 1967 Ferrari 312 appeared as one of the leading cars in Grand Prix Legends (GPL), a PC-based simulation of the 1967 F1 championship. The 1966 version was part of a free 66 Mod for GPL, which was introduced in 2007. It included further refined driving physics. The 1968 and 1969 cars, which feature wings for added downforce, appear in the respective season mods as well. In 2017, the 1967 version was included in the Ferrari 70th Anniversary Celebration Pack for Assetto Corsa .

Popularity

In 2011, TheF1Times.com rated the 312 as being "the most beautiful Formula One car of all time", stating "Ferrari's 312 remains in some opinions as one of the most aesthetically-pleasing Formula One cars of not only the 1960s, but of all time." [5]

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References

  1. "Ferrari 312 F1-66". formula1.ferrari.com. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  2. "Ferrari 312 F1-67". formula1.ferrari.com. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  3. "Ferrari 312 F1-68". formula1.ferrari.com. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  4. "Ferrari 312 F1-69". formula1.ferrari.com. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  5. "The Top-5 Most Beautiful F1 Cars of All Time". 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)