Ferrari 312B

Ferrari 312B
Ferrari 312B2
Ferrari 312B3
Ferrari 312B3-74
	Ferrari 312 B2 of 1972
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Scuderia Ferrari
Designer(s)	Mauro Forghieri
Predecessor	312
Successor	312T
Technical specifications
Chassis	Aluminium monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbone, inboard spring/damper
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbone suspension
Engine	Ferrari Tipo 001 2,992 cc (182.6 cu in), Flat-12, naturally aspirated, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Ferrari Type 621 5-speed manual
Fuel	Shell ; Agip
Tyres	1970-72: Firestone ; 1973-75 Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Scuderia Ferrari
Notable drivers	Mario Andretti ; Niki Lauda ; Clay Regazzoni ; Jacky Ickx
Debut	1970 South African Grand Prix (312B); 1971 Monaco Grand Prix (312B2); 1973 Spanish Grand Prix (312B3)
Constructors' Championships	1 (1975)
Drivers' Championships	1 (1975, Niki Lauda)
	n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to; Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

Last updated October 24, 2024

The Ferrari 312B is a Formula One racing car designed and built by Scuderia Ferrari. It was the successor to the Ferrari 312 and was used from 1970 until early 1975. The original 312B was developed into the 312B2 and 312B3.

History

The early 1970s saw the return of success to the Scuderia; the unlucky Chris Amon left, while Jacky Ickx returned and was joined by Clay Regazzoni. Under the direction of Mauro Forghieri, Ferrari developed a new Tipo 001 flat-12 engine, colloquially referred to as a "boxer" (although not a real boxer engine), giving a lower center of gravity and a clear airflow beneath the rear wing.

During the car's first season, in 1970, Ickx battled with Lotus's Jochen Rindt and won three Grands Prix, while the Italian Grand Prix was won by Clay Regazzoni, following the death of Rindt in a practice session preceding the race. In the remaining races, Ickx could not close the points gap to Rindt for the drivers title, and Lotus won the Constructors Championship ahead of Ferrari.

The 1971 season started with a win by new signing Mario Andretti. Although being presented in January, the 312 B2 debuted at the third round in Monaco, followed by the Dutch Grand Prix success for Ickx. However the B2 suffered with handling problems: the combination of the innovative rear suspension and the new Firestone tyres gave severe vibrations when driven close to the limit. Forghieri designed and fitted winglets to the front wings of the car for the British Grand Prix that year; however these were not seen again afterwards. Ferrari ultimately came third in the Constructors Championship, as Jackie Stewart and Tyrrell dominated the season.

In 1972 Ferrari fielded a revised B2 with a more conventional rear suspension, but could not keep up with the progress of the competition, dropping to fourth at the end of the year. Ickx won the 1972 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, but this was to be his last GP win.

During the season, Forghieri experimented with a new front bodywork that was very similar to the front bodywork of the Tyrrell 003; it was tested and fitted to the cars for the second race in South Africa that year, however it was not used again afterwards due to it making the cars uncompetitive. Forghieri also designed a radical new car featuring a square bodywork and full width nose on a very short wheelbase. This new 312 B3 was tested by Merzario and Ickx but never raced in a Grand Prix. The Italian press nicknamed it the spazzaneve (snowplow).

For 1973, FIAT executives imposed a new technical staff and Forghieri was transferred to the experimental department; his role was taken by Sandro Colombo, a former Gilera and Innocenti engineer. The spazzaneve project was discarded and replaced by a new design, still named 312 B3. A new full monocoque chassis was built by specialist English company TC Prototypes, under John Thompson's guidance, and the engine became a fully stressed member.

In the first races, Ferrari still used the old 312 B2: the car was no longer competitive, and Ickx only managed one fourth place at the opening GP of the season. The new 312 B3 debuted at the Spanish Grand Prix, but proved to be slow and unreliable achieving even worse results. Throughout the 1973 season, Ferrari was outclassed, and they even skipped some Grands Prix, notably the Nürburgring. Ickx left the team halfway through the season in order to contest the 1973 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in a McLaren, where he took 3rd place behind the Tyrrells of Stewart and François Cevert, despite being given an older-spec Ford Cosworth V8 and the hardest compound of tyres available.

During the summer Forghieri was recalled as technical director and set about revising the B3 incorporating some of the ideas used on his radical spazzaneve.

For 1974 Ferrari fielded a heavily revised car, named 312 B3-74, and signed BRM drivers Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni.

The car was succeeded by the 312T which was introduced for the 1975 Formula One season.

Ferrari 312 B3S Spazzaneve

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Technical data

Technical data	312B	312B2	312B3
Engine:	Mid-mounted 180° 12-cylinder V-engine
displacement:	2991 cm³	2992 cm³
Bore x stroke:	78.5 x 51.5 mm	80.0 x 49.6 mm
Compression:	11.5:1
Max power at rpm:	450 hp at 12 000 rpm	470 hp at 12 600 rpm	490 hp at 12 500 rpm
Valve control:	Double Overhead Camshafts per cylinder bank, 4 valves per cylinder
Fuel system:	Lucas fuel injection
Gearbox:	5-speed manual
suspension front:	Upper cross link, lower triangle link, coil springs	Double triangle links, coil springs
suspension rear:	Upper transverse link, lower triangular link, double longitudinal links, coil springs, anti-roll bars
Brakes:	Hydraulic disc brakes
Chassis & body:	Self-supporting monocoque
Wheelbase:	238 cm		251 cm
Dry weight:	535 kg	560 kg	580 kg

Complete Formula One World Championship results

Year	Chassis	Tyres	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Points	WCC
1970	312B	F		RSA	ESP	MON	BEL	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA	MEX			52 (55)	2nd
			Jacky Ickx	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	3	Ret	Ret	2	1	Ret	1	4	1
			Clay Regazzoni					4		4	Ret	2	1	2	13	2
			Ignazio Giunti				4		14			7	Ret
1971	312B	F		RSA	ESP	MON	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA					33	3rd
			Jacky Ickx	8	2							Ret		Ret
			Clay Regazzoni	3	Ret
			Mario Andretti	1	Ret	DNQ	Ret
	312B2		Jacky Ickx			3	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret		8
			Clay Regazzoni			Ret	3	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	6
			Mario Andretti							4			13	DNS
1972	312B2	F		ARG	RSA	ESP	MON	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA				33	4th
			Jacky Ickx	3	8	2	2	Ret	11	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	12	5
			Clay Regazzoni	4	12	3	Ret	Ret			2	Ret	Ret	5	8
			Mario Andretti	Ret	4	Ret							7		6
			Nanni Galli						13
			Arturo Merzario							6	12
1973	312B2	G		ARG	BRA	RSA	ESP	BEL	MON	SWE	FRA	GBR	NED	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA	12	6th
			Jacky Ickx	4	5	Ret
			Arturo Merzario	9	4	4
	312B3		Jacky Ickx				12	Ret	Ret	6	5	8				8
	312B3		Arturo Merzario						Ret		7				7	Ret	15	16
1974	312B3-74	G		ARG	BRA	RSA	ESP	BEL	MON	SWE	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	CAN	USA	65	2nd
			Clay Regazzoni	3	2	Ret	2	4	4	Ret	2	3	4	1	5	Ret	2	11
			Niki Lauda	2	Ret	16	1	2	Ret	Ret	1	2	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret
1975	312B3-74	G		ARG	BRA	RSA	ESP	MON	BEL	SWE	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	USA		72.5¹	1st
			Clay Regazzoni	4	4
			Niki Lauda	6	5

¹ In 1975, 63.5 points were scored driving the Ferrari 312T.

Related Research Articles

The 1968 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Monza Autodrome on 8 September 1968. It was race 9 of 12 in both the 1968 World Championship of Drivers and the 1968 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 68-lap race was won by McLaren driver Denny Hulme after he started from seventh position. Johnny Servoz-Gavin finished second for the Matra team and Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx came in third.

The 1970 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on September 6, 1970. It was race 10 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The race was marred by the death of Jochen Rindt, who died during the practice session on September 5. Rindt himself went on to become Formula One's only posthumous World Champion to date. The 68-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Clay Regazzoni for his first Grand Prix victory after starting from third position. Jackie Stewart finished second for the Tyrrell team in one of the last races the team used the March chassis and Matra driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise came in third.

The 1970 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 4, 1970 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. It was race 12 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The 1970 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca in Mexico City on October 25, 1970. It was race 13 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 65-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx after he started from third position. His teammate Clay Regazzoni finished second and McLaren driver Denny Hulme came in third.

The 1971 South African Grand Prix, formally the Fifth AA Grand Prix of South Africa, was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami Circuit on 6 March 1971. It was race 1 of 11 in both the 1971 World Championship of Drivers and the 1971 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The race was won by Mario Andretti who was driving for the Ferrari team in what was his first Formula One victory, but would not win another Formula One race until 1976.

The 1971 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit Paul Ricard on 4 July 1971. It was race 5 of 11 in both the 1971 World Championship of Drivers and the 1971 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 55-lap race was won by Tyrrell driver Jackie Stewart after he started from pole position. His teammate François Cevert finished second and Lotus driver Emerson Fittipaldi came in third.

The 1979 Formula One season was the 33rd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1979 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1979 International Cup for F1 Constructors which were contested concurrently over a fifteen-round series which commenced on 21 January 1979, and ended on 7 October 1979. The season also included three non-championship Formula One races.

The 1974 Formula One season was the 28th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1974 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1974 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, contested concurrently over a fifteen-race series which commenced on 13 January and ended on 6 October. The season also included three non-championship races.

The 1972 Formula One season was the 26th season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 23rd World Championship of Drivers, the 15th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, and numerous non-championship Formula One races. The World Championship season commenced on 23 January and ended on 8 October after twelve races.

The 1971 Formula One season was the 25th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 22nd World Championship of Drivers, the 14th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and a number of non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over eleven races between 6 March and 3 October.

The 1970 Formula One season was the 24th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 21st World Championship of Drivers, the 13th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and three non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over thirteen races between 7 March and 25 October.

The 1969 Formula One season was the 23rd season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 20th World Championship of Drivers, the 12th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and four non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over eleven races between 1 March and 19 October 1969.

The 1968 Formula One season was the 22nd season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 19th World Championship of Drivers, the 11th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, and three non-championship races open to Formula One cars. The World Championship was contested over twelve races between 1 January and 3 November 1968.

Gianclaudio Giuseppe "Clay" Regazzoni was a Swiss racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1970 to 1980. Regazzoni was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1974 with Ferrari, and won five Grands Prix across 11 seasons.

Ferrari 512 S was a sports prototype car produced by Italian manufacturer Ferrari from 1969 to 1970. As it name suggests, the car had a 5.0L V12 engine. A total 25 units were built.

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

The Lotus 72 is a Formula One car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe of Lotus for the 1970 Formula One season. The 72 was a pioneering design featuring inboard brakes, side-mounted radiators in sidepods, and aerodynamic wings producing down-force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 312T</span> 1975-1980 Formula One racing car by Ferrari

The Ferrari 312T was a Ferrari Formula One car design, based on the 312B3 from 1974. In various versions, it was used from 1975 until 1980. It was designed by Mauro Forghieri for the 1975 season, and was an uncomplicated and clean design that responded well to mechanical upgrades.

Mauro Forghieri was an Italian mechanical engineer, best known for his work as a Formula One racing car designer with Scuderia Ferrari during the 1960s and 1970s. He is credited with introducing the first designed rear wings to Formula One at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix. He oversaw numerous technical developments during his tenure at Ferrari, including the creation of the 250 GTO and P-series sports racing cars, the Ferrari flat-12 series of engines, Ferrari's first turbocharged engine in the 126 C F1 car, and a prototype semi-automatic transmission in 1979. During Forghieri's tenure with Ferrari, the company won the F1 World Driver's Championship four times and the F1 World Constructors' Championship seven times. After leaving Ferrari in 1987, he worked at Lamborghini and Bugatti then founded the Oral Engineering Group in 1995.

The Jochen Rindt Memorial or the VI Rhein-Pokalrennen was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 13 June 1971 at the Hockenheimring, Germany. The race was run over 35 laps of the circuit, and was dominated by Belgian driver Jacky Ickx in a Ferrari 312B.

References

External links

article about 312B Archived 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
Tremayne, David & Hughes, Mark (1998). The Concise Encyclopedia Of Formula One, Paragon.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.