• Source: Ferrari 312 P

      • The Ferrari 312 P was a Group 6 Prototype-Sports Car used for racing in 1969 and 1970. The new 1971 version of the sports prototype came with a flat-12 engine, often referred to as a boxer engine.


      History


      After boycotting sports car racing in 1968 to protest a rule change that also banned their 4-litre 330 P4, Ferrari built a 3000cc prototype in 1969, the 312 P. It was hardly more than a 3-litre F1 Ferrari 312 with open Barchetta, and later the closed top Berlinetta.


      Car in Racing


      The first registered race was at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1969. Ferrari (short on money) started only one 312 P (chassis no. 0868). Mario Andretti got pole position, and with Chris Amon, he managed to finish second. This raised hopes for a prospective Ferrari victory. At the ensuing test weekend at Le Mans, a different car, chassis no. 0870, disappointed, and it was clear that better aerodynamics (with a closed coupe) were necessary. The 0870 also raced at the BOAC 500 in Brands Hatch, where Amon and Pedro Rodríguez finished fourth (behind three Porsche 908-01). At 1000km Monza, Chris Amon took the pole with the 312 P spider, ahead of Jo Siffert's 908-01, but had to retire. The 312 P was not entered in the second Italian race, the Targa Florio, and had to retire in the German 1000 km Nürburgring. At the 1000 km Spa race, the 312 P of Rodriguez and David Piper was second behind the Siffert/Redman 908-01LH. Two 312 Ps were entered in the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans, now as low-drag Berlinettas. They were fifth and sixth on the grid, but didn't finish.

      During the 1969 season, the appearance of the Porsche 917 had made clear that only a similar new 5-litre car would be able to challenge it. Since mid-1969, Ferrari spent some of the millions earned in the Fiat deal for the construction of the required series of 25 new 5-litre V12 Group 5 sports cars. At the end of the season the two remaining 312 Ps were sold to Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team, since the European branch of Ferrari racing would rely on the Ferrari 512 in 1970. The 312 Ps returned to Europe for the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, where one of them was raced (as opposed to eleven 512s). The car was among the 16 cars still running at the end.


      Specifications


      Top speed = 320 km/h(198.8mph)
      Engine
      Type: rear, longitudinal V12 60°
      Bore/stroke: 78.5 x 51.5 mm
      Unitary displacement: 249.25 cc
      Total displacement: 2991.01 cc
      Compression ratio: 11,5:1
      Maximum power: 331 kW (450 hp) at 10.800 RPM
      Power per litre: 150 hp/l
      Valve actuation: Twin overhead camshaft per bank, four valves per cylinder
      Fuel feed: Lucas indirect injection // Ignition = Single spark plug per cylinder, electronic
      Lubrication: Dry sump
      Clutch: Multi-plate
      Chassis
      Frame: tubular steel
      Front and rear suspension: Independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
      Brakes: Discs
      Transmission: 5-speed + reverse
      Steering: Rack-and-pinion
      Fuel tank: Capacity 117 litres
      Front tyres: 9-22-13
      Rear tyres: 13-26-15
      Bodywork
      Type: Two-seater spider
      Length: 3500 mm
      Width: 1880 mm
      Height: 956 mm
      Wheelbase: 2220 mm
      Front track: 1425 mm
      Rear track: 1400 mm
      Weight: 585 kg (with liquids)


      References


      Notes

      Bibliography
      Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile. Penguin. 2011. ISBN 978-0-7566-8938-4.
      Collins, Peter; McDonough, Ed (2009). Ferrari 312P & 312PB. Veloce. ISBN 978-1-84584-259-8.


      External links


      312 P (1969) on Ferrari's website

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