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  Ferrari 312 P Spyder      

  Article Image gallery (15) 0872 Specifications  
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Country of origin:Italy
Produced in:1969
Numbers built:3
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:August 08, 2016
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Click here to download printer friendly versionFrom the outset Ferrari planned only limited racing activities in 1969 with chief engineer Mauro Forghieri and considerable resources dedicated to the design and development of a new flat-12 Formula 1 engine. The first and at that point single 312 P was damaged during testing so Ferrari could not compete in the opening round of the championship at Daytona. Fully repaired, the 312 P was entered in the Sebring 12 Hours for Chris Amon and Mario Andretti. Facing a contingent of lighter, but less powerful Porsche 908s, the new Ferrari impressed with a pole position just ahead of a Group 4 Lola T70. Mechanical problems hindered the 312 P during the opening stages of the race, but once sorted the blisteringly quick Ferrari sped to the head of the race. A collision with another car damaged the nose and despite repairs the car suffered from overheating for the remainder of the race. Nevertheless the 312 P managed to reach the finish in second overall and first in class. A second chassis (0870) was built and sent to the next championship round at Brands Hatch. Fitted with highly effective wings and spoilers, the Ferrari again claimed pole and eventually missed out on the victory because of a puncture in the opening stages and a lengthened throttle cable towards the end.

While the new 312 P was competing at Brands Hatch, the first example was at Le Mans for the official test weekend. Designed for high downforce tracks, the Spyder body proved to be a big handicap on the long Mulsanne straight. That, however, was the least of Ferrari's concerns as Porsche rolled out the all new 917, which was built to the Group 4 regulations. In a creative interpretation of the regulations the German manufacturer opted to build 25 examples of their new prototype racing car. Powered by a 550 bhp flat 12 engine, it looked set to eclipse all that had come before. Despite the poor performance at Le Mans, both 312 Ps excelled at the high speed Monza track during the next round of the World Championship. The two cars qualified on the front row due to their superior speed through the high speed corners. Unfortunately the track's banking was particularly rough on the Ferraris' Firestone tires and both cars had to make unscheduled stops from the lead for fresh tires. Both Ferraris failed to reach the finish with the new car dropping an engine and the original 312 P crashing dramatic fashion after its tail came off at high speed due to accident damage incurred earlier.

With just one 312 P left, Ferrari opted to skip the Targa Florio and reappeared at the Spa 1000 km round of the World Championship. Here the 312 P Spyder first encountered the Porsche 917 in racing conditions. Now fully homologated as a Group 4, the slippery Porsche easily clinched the pole. The 917 was no force during the race and despite another unscheduled pit stop to repair damage from an accident early in the race, the 312 P finished a credible second. Next on the agenda was the Nürburgring 1000 km, which saw an even slippier version of the Porsche 908 Spyder. Compared to the Ferrari, the eight cylinder engined Porsche had about 60 bhp less, but made most of that up with its lighter weight and better fuel efficiency. With six Porsches on the grid, the sole Ferrari was also outnumbered. The 312 P again qualified on the front row and during the race formed the only opposition for the fleet of Porsches. Unfortunately the V12 engined machine ground to a halt just halfway through the race, just after Amon had broken the lap record. The mount of the ignition box had failed. Porsche won the race and the Championship.

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  Article Image gallery (15) 0872 Specifications