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Description
This photo & information is from: www.ultimatecarpage.com/

Country of origin: Italy
Produced in: 1970
Numbers built: 4
Designed by: Mauro Forghieri
Predecessor: Ferrari 312/69 F1
Successor: Ferrari 312 B2
Author: Wouter Melissen
Last updated: October 03, 2013

When Formula 1 switched to a three-litre displacement limit ahead of the 1966 season, many believed this would herald a new era of Ferrari domination. Although some victories were scored, the Italian team did not manage to win any championships with the subsequent evolutions of the V12-engined 312 F1. With the company's future secured in 1969 through an agreement with Fiat, Ferrari could afford to start with a clean sheet ahead of the 1970 season.

Dubbed the 312 B, the new-for-1970 Ferrari was built around the latest development of the flat 12 designed by Mauro Forghieri. An engine of this configuration was first seen in 1964 in the 1.5-litre 1512 F1 and later in the decade enlarged to 2-litre in the one-off 212 E Montagna hill-climb racer. Although the 'B' in the type name was short for 'Boxer', the new engine was in fact a V12 with a 180º cylinder angle. This is a much shorter solution than an actual boxer, which effectively is a flattened in-line engine.

Like the European Hill-Climb Championship winning 212 E flat 12, the new, all-aluminium three-litre engine featured double overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder. The camshafts were driven by gears fitted at the front of the engine. Equipped with a Lucas fuel-injection system, the new engine produced around 450 bhp at 11,000 rpm. At least on paper, this meant the flat 12 was the most powerful engine on the grid in 1970. It was mated to a five-speed gearbox that had also been developed in-house.

Unlike the dominant Cosworth DFV V8, Ferrari's new V12 could not be used as a fully stressed member. Instead, it was mounted under an extension of the chassis. This was of Ferrari's familiar semi-monocoque design consisting of a steel spaceframe with stressed aluminium panels adding rigidity. In-board at the front, the 312 B's suspension also followed conventional lines. The completed car featured small front wings mounted on either side of the nose and a multi-element rear wing placed on top of the engine. For the opening Grands Prix of the 1970 season, Ferrari focused their efforts on principle driver Jackie Ickx. The 312 B showed promise in these early races but the new flat 12 engine also had some bugs that needed ironing out. From the Belgian Grand Prix onwards a second car was fielded for either Ignazio Giunti or Clay Regazzoni. Halfway through the season, the continuous development started to pay off and in the Dutch Grand Prix Ickx qualified on the front row and finished third ahead of Regazzoni in fourth.

Although, Ickx was now consistently among the fastest drivers, the Belgian driver had to wait until round 9, the Austrian Grand Prix, before he could clinch the first victory with the 312 B. Regazzoni finished second to make it a one-two on the Osterreichring. Of the remaining four Grands Prix, Ickx would win another two; Canada and Mexico and much to the delight of the Tifosi, Regazzoni scored a victory in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Both Ickx and Ferrari finished the year second in the Drivers and Constructors Championship respectively.

Winning four of the last five Grands Prix of 1970, Ferrari were clearly the favourites going into the 1971 season. While an evolution was readied back in Maranello, the Italian team brought out the four 312 Bs for the opening rounds. New signing Mario Andretti started off the year on a high with a win in the South African Grand Prix. From the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari campaigned the new 312 B2, which featured a revised engine, a lower body and an all-new suspension setup. Ickx managed to score one more win in 1971 but there was no sign of the late-1970 form.

With five Grand Prix wins, the 312 B brought Ferrari back to the sharp end of the Formula 1 World Championship after several dismal seasons. Sadly, this form was short-lived prompting another difficult couple of years. The flat 12 first used in the 312 B did, however, form the basis of Ferrari's success in the second half of the decade, resulting in three World Drivers Championships.

Description
This photo & information is from: www.ultimatecarpage.com/

Country of origin: Italy
Produced in: 1970
Numbers built: 4
Designed by: Mauro Forghieri
Predecessor: Ferrari 312/69 F1
Successor: Ferrari 312 B2
Author: Wouter Melissen
Last updated: October 03, 2013

When Formula 1 switched to a three-litre displacement limit ahead of the 1966 season, many believed this would herald a new era of Ferrari domination. Although some victories were scored, the Italian team did not manage to win any championships with the subsequent evolutions of the V12-engined 312 F1. With the company's future secured in 1969 through an agreement with Fiat, Ferrari could afford to start with a clean sheet ahead of the 1970 season.

Dubbed the 312 B, the new-for-1970 Ferrari was built around the latest development of the flat 12 designed by Mauro Forghieri. An engine of this configuration was first seen in 1964 in the 1.5-litre 1512 F1 and later in the decade enlarged to 2-litre in the one-off 212 E Montagna hill-climb racer. Although the 'B' in the type name was short for 'Boxer', the new engine was in fact a V12 with a 180º cylinder angle. This is a much shorter solution than an actual boxer, which effectively is a flattened in-line engine.

Like the European Hill-Climb Championship winning 212 E flat 12, the new, all-aluminium three-litre engine featured double overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder. The camshafts were driven by gears fitted at the front of the engine. Equipped with a Lucas fuel-injection system, the new engine produced around 450 bhp at 11,000 rpm. At least on paper, this meant the flat 12 was the most powerful engine on the grid in 1970. It was mated to a five-speed gearbox that had also been developed in-house.

Unlike the dominant Cosworth DFV V8, Ferrari's new V12 could not be used as a fully stressed member. Instead, it was mounted under an extension of the chassis. This was of Ferrari's familiar semi-monocoque design consisting of a steel spaceframe with stressed aluminium panels adding rigidity. In-board at the front, the 312 B's suspension also followed conventional lines. The completed car featured small front wings mounted on either side of the nose and a multi-element rear wing placed on top of the engine. For the opening Grands Prix of the 1970 season, Ferrari focused their efforts on principle driver Jackie Ickx. The 312 B showed promise in these early races but the new flat 12 engine also had some bugs that needed ironing out. From the Belgian Grand Prix onwards a second car was fielded for either Ignazio Giunti or Clay Regazzoni. Halfway through the season, the continuous development started to pay off and in the Dutch Grand Prix Ickx qualified on the front row and finished third ahead of Regazzoni in fourth.

Although, Ickx was now consistently among the fastest drivers, the Belgian driver had to wait until round 9, the Austrian Grand Prix, before he could clinch the first victory with the 312 B. Regazzoni finished second to make it a one-two on the Osterreichring. Of the remaining four Grands Prix, Ickx would win another two; Canada and Mexico and much to the delight of the Tifosi, Regazzoni scored a victory in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Both Ickx and Ferrari finished the year second in the Drivers and Constructors Championship respectively.

Winning four of the last five Grands Prix of 1970, Ferrari were clearly the favourites going into the 1971 season. While an evolution was readied back in Maranello, the Italian team brought out the four 312 Bs for the opening rounds. New signing Mario Andretti started off the year on a high with a win in the South African Grand Prix. From the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari campaigned the new 312 B2, which featured a revised engine, a lower body and an all-new suspension setup. Ickx managed to score one more win in 1971 but there was no sign of the late-1970 form.

With five Grand Prix wins, the 312 B brought Ferrari back to the sharp end of the Formula 1 World Championship after several dismal seasons. Sadly, this form was short-lived prompting another difficult couple of years. The flat 12 first used in the 312 B did, however, form the basis of Ferrari's success in the second half of the decade, resulting in three World Drivers Championships.