Ferrari 312B3

Ferrari 312B3

Constructor:	Scuderia Ferrari
Designer:	Mauro Forghieri Sandro Colombo
Predecessor:	Ferrari 312B2
Successor:	Ferrari 312 T
Technical specifications
Chassis:	Aluminum monocoque
Engine:	Ferrari-V 12, 180 °, 2991 cm³
Length:	4335 mm
Width:	2056 mm
Height:	900 mm
Wheelbase:	2500 mm
Weight:	580 kg
Tires:	Goodyear
Petrol:	Agip
statistics
Driver:	Jacky Ickx Arturo Merzario Clay Regazzoni Niki Lauda
First start:	1973 Spanish Grand Prix
Last start:	1975 Brazilian Grand Prix
Starts Victories Poles SR - - - -
World Cup points:	-
Podiums:	-
Leadership laps:	k. A. / tba

The Ferrari 312 B3 was a Formula 1 race car, which the Scuderia Ferrari in the Formula 1 World Championship in 1973 and in the enhanced version Ferrari 312 B3-74 also in 1974 and in the first two races in 1975 began. The designer was mainly Mauro Forghieri , who was temporarily replaced by Sandro Colombo. In the 1973 season, the Type B3 was driven by Jacky Ickx and Arturo Merzario , and in the following years by Clay Regazzoni and Niki Lauda . Although the 312 B3 is considered to be one of the least competitive vehicles in Ferrari F1 history, it laid the foundation for the development of the 312 T series , which brought the team back to the top of Formula 1.

history

The story of the Ferrari 312 B3 is the story of a metamorphosis. The first 312 B3 appeared in Formula 1 in 1973 and was a failure. After Ferrari had built a test car with an extremely short wheelbase, the 312 B3 made its debut at the Spanish Grand Prix with Jacky Ickx at the wheel. With this design Ferrari left the construction principle of the lattice frame and presented the first monocoque Formula 1 Ferrari. The chassis was built by the British racing car company John Thompson's Prototypes .

The two works drivers Ickx and Arturo Merzario struggled the entire season with the racing car, which was fraught with many defects. When Ickx was fired after the British Grand Prix (he returned to the Ferrari cockpit for the race in Monza ) and the now one-car team did not compete in the Austrian Grand Prix , the rumor spread that the Scuderia would withdraw from Formula 1 the round.

As early as 1973, the body was constantly changed, so during the season the radiators were moved from the side pods to the front end, which earned the car the nickname "snow plow".

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo , 26-year-old assistant to Enzo Ferrari, brought Mauro Forghieri, who had been transferred to the development department, back to Scuderia at the end of 1973 and commissioned him to overhaul the car. In 1974 the 312 B3 got smoother surfaces, the cockpit was moved as far forward as possible to improve the center of gravity. The engine was also completely redesigned so that the 12-cylinder now developed 495 hp. Under Montezemolo's leadership and with the new works driver Niki Lauda , the Scuderia found its way back to its old size. Then came the homecomer Clay Regazzoni , who, spurred on, matured from a young Austrian to become a top driver. Lauda won in Spain and the Netherlands . Regazzoni triumphed at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring when he drove to victory with record laps on dry tires on partially wet tracks.

Ferrari lost the world championships for both drivers and designers to Emerson Fittipaldi and McLaren , as the stability of the 312 B3 remained the Achilles' heel of Scuderia.

Development: the "snow plow" project

The Ferrari 312B3 "Spazzaneve" in the Ferrari Museum

The 1972 season was a disappointment for Ferrari overall: Jacky Ickx had taken pole positions several times, but only won the German Grand Prix . In addition, the 312 B2 seemed to have reached the end of its development potential and to be inferior to the English competitors who drove with an engine like the Ford Cosworth DFV , which was less powerful, but lighter and easier to maintain than the classic V12 from Ferrari.

In view of this situation, Mauro Forghieri decided to develop a concept with which he could test a whole range of ideas and problem solutions that he wanted to use from the following season. This prototype, called the B3, was presented in August 1972. It already complied with the new regulations that were to come into force on May 1, 1973, including the “obligation to deformable structures on the sides”, which significantly increased the width of the car.

This design was far removed from Ferrari's earlier principles: It had a completely newly developed, "original" front part that earned it the nickname "snow plow" ( Italian spazzaneve ); the radiator, which was previously installed in the front of the car, was divided and placed on the side behind the front wheels. The air flowed in through the two large inlets on the front.

Another special feature of the concept was the extremely short wheelbase of just 2.33 meters. That was because the project was the sum of the considerations of the designer at the time:

• Keep weights as concentrated as possible around the center of gravity to reduce the moment of polar inertia .
• A wide body shape to achieve as much downforce as possible. This solution resulted from the test results with the sports car prototype 312 P .
• A newly developed aerodynamic line to create an initial " ground effect ".

The only connection points to the previous car were the chassis, which was built as a tubular space frame typical for Forghieri , as well as the flat 12-cylinder engine that hung on a crossbar.

Although the vehicle was not convincing in test drives, did not start at a Gran Prix start and Forghieri was then withdrawn as a designer from the Formula 1 team and replaced by Sandro Colombo, these ideas were no mere "design exercise": Forghieri (reinstated as a designer) developed it further in 1974 with the B3-74 and led it to triumph with the 312 T in 1975 .

Further development to type 312B3-74

In August 1973, Enzo Ferrari called Mauro Forghieri, who had meanwhile been withdrawn from the development of the F1 car, back to the team because the performance of the 312 B3 had not improved under the direction of Sandro Colombo. Forghieri's first changes proved to be effective, but the season was almost over and lost, so Scuderia was fully focused on 1974.

Despite keeping the type designation B3, the car built in 1973 under the management of Colombo, the Forghieri monoposto from 1974 was a completely different car than the previous one. The 312 B3-74 was a very flat and wide car with side coolers, a generously dimensioned front wing and a noticeable air intake (airscope) above the roll bar. Almost all of the other cars were narrow and tall, but the choice of this design scheme proved very satisfactory as the new Ferrari was better able to use aerodynamic effects than the competition to generate more downforce. Forghieri later explained that the idea came to him when he remembered the 312P project from 1971/72 and found that the large and sloping body surface of these types produced greater downforce than the Formula 1 car that used the same "flat" 180 ° 12 cylinder 3 liter engine. The cockpit was designed in a more forward position than the previous car, with the pedals moved very far into the front of the car. Thanks to the space gained behind the seat, the car could be equipped with a larger fuel tank that extended into the side pods.

Painting and sponsorship

The Ferrari 312 B3 "Spazzaneve", as a direct successor to the B2, was painted in classic Rosso Corsa like its predecessors . Only a small area behind the cockpit was white. TAG Heuer , Firestone and Shell were prominently placed on the vehicle as sponsors and technical partners . The types 312 B3 and 312 B3-74 developed from the “Snowplough Project” were also painted in “Rosso Corsa”, with new white stripes, which had been untypical for Ferrari, “shared” the red paint. There were two noticeable innovations among the technical partners: The relationship with Shell ended, the team agreed with Agip on the delivery of fuel and started a partnership that was planned to last 22 years. In addition, the tire supplier Firestone was replaced by Goodyear .

Built copies

A total of 7 chassis (not including the "Spazzaneve" version) were built of the type 312 B3:

• 312B3 / 010. Driven for Jacky Ickx's debut at the 1973 Spanish Grand Prix. Used in 7 GPs in 1973, then converted into the Ferrari 312 B3-74, driven by Niki Lauda in the Race of Champions and the Monaco GP
• 312B3 / 011. First used by Arturo Merzario at the 1973 Monaco Grand Prix. Used in 4 GPs in 1973, converted into the new version, driven by Clay Regazzoni in 6 races from the Argentina GP
• 312B3 / 012. First start with Merzario at the French Grand Prix in 1973. Used at 4 GPs in 1973, then converted to a Ferrari 312 B3-74 and used in 6 races at the 1974 World Championship by Niki Lauda
• 312B3 / 014. New car from Clay Regazzoni in 7 races in 1974 and Niki Lauda once raced. In 1975 it is used by Clay Regazzoni at the beginning of the season
• 312B3 / 015. Niki Lauda's new 1974 car in 7 races, damaged at the 1974 Spanish Grand Prix
• 312B3 / 016. New Clay Regazzoni car driven in only 2 races in 1975.
• 312B3 / 020. New car driven by Niki Lauda in just two races at the opening of the 1975 World Championship

Note: Chassis numbers 13 and 17 were probably not assigned out of superstition . The chassis 020 was converted after the races to the "test carrier" for the first tests with the new Ferrari 312 T, which was only used in 1975 (then with the consecutive chassis 018 and 019). The first three chassis were modified by Ferrari by removing some panels in the chassis to change the driver's position.

gallery

• 

  Niki Lauda on his victory drive at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1974

• 

  Ferrari 312 B3 "snow plow"

• 

  Niki Lauda at the Race of Champions 1974

• 

  Niki Lauda's 312 B3 (1974) at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Results

driver	No.	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	Points	rank
1973 Formula 1 season																	12	6th
Jacky Ickx	- 1	- 2nd			12	DNF	DNF	6th	5	8th	DNS 3	DNS 4	DNS 5	8th	DNS 6	DNS 6
Arturo Merzario	- 1				DNS 5	DNS 5	DNF	DNS 5	7th	DNS 5	DNS 3	DNS 5	7th	DNF	15th	16
1974 Formula 1 season																	65	2.
Clay Regazzoni	11	3	2	DNF	2	4th	4th	DNF	2	3	4th	1	5	DNF	2	11
Niki Lauda	12	2	DNF	16	1	2	DNF	DNF	1	2	5	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF
1975 Formula 1 season																	72.5 7	1.
Clay Regazzoni	11	4th	4th	- 8
Niki Lauda	12	6th	5

¹Fixed starting numbers were only available from the 1974 Formula 1 season. Previously, the numbers varied from race to race.

²The first races of the 1973 season were contested with the previous model 312B2 .

³ Ferrari did not start due to lack of competitiveness.

^4thFerrari did not compete, but allowed regular driver Jacky Ickx to contest the Grand Prix for McLaren as an exception .

⁵ Not on the registration list.

^6th Jacky Ickx had left the Scuderia, so, as already several times this season, they entered with just one car.

^7thOf these, 63.5 points were achieved with the successor model 312T .

^8th The remaining races of the 1975 season were contested with the successor model Ferrari 312T.

Legend
colour	abbreviation	meaning
gold	-	victory
silver	-	2nd place
bronze	-	3rd place
green	-	Placement in the points
blue	-	Classified outside the point ranks
violet	DNF	Race not finished (did not finish)
	NC	not classified
red	DNQ	did not qualify
	DNPQ	failed in pre-qualification (did not pre-qualify)
black	DSQ	disqualified
White	DNS	not at the start (did not start)
	WD	withdrawn
Light Blue	PO	only participated in the training (practiced only)
	TD	Friday test driver
without	DNP	did not participate in the training (did not practice)
	INJ	injured or sick
	EX	excluded
	DNA	did not arrive
	C.	Race canceled
		no participation in the World Cup
other	P / bold	Pole position
	SR / italic	Fastest race lap
	*	not at the finish, but counted due to the distance covered
	()	Streak results
	underlined	Leader in the overall standings

Technical specifications

Parameters	Ferrari 312 B3, 1974
engine	Ferrari 12-cylinder boxer , mid-engine (lengthways behind the driver)
Displacement (bore × stroke)	2991 cm³ (78.5 × 51.5 mm)
compression	11.8: 1
power	490–495 hp (approx. 360 kW) at 12,500 rpm
Valve control	2 overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, gear-driven
Mixture preparation	Lucas intake manifold injection
ignition	Marelli - transistor ignition
Power transmission	5-speed gearbox, Ferrari type 627, rear-wheel drive
body	Aluminum monocoque, bearing the drive group
Front suspension	double wishbones with stabilizer, coil springs and Koni shock absorbers
Rear suspension	Double wishbones with stabilizer, coil springs, Koni shock absorbers and one upper trailing arm each
steering	Rack and pinion steering , two-part steering column
brake	Lockheed disc brakes, internal at the rear
wheelbase	2500 mm
Front / rear track	1600/1640 mm
Tire size front / rear	9.2 / 20.0-13 and 16.2 / 26.0-13
Dimensions L × W	4335 × 2056
Empty weight (without driver)	approx. 580 kg

literature

• Mike Lang: Grand Prix! Race-by-race account of Formula 1. Haynes Publishing Group, Sparkford 1982, ISBN 0-85429-321-3 .
• David Hodges: Racing cars from A to Z after 1945. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-613-01477-7 .
• Pino Casamassima: Storia della Scuderia Ferrari. Nada Editore, Vimodrome 1998, ISBN 88-7911-179-5 .
• Leonardo Acerbi: 60 years of Ferrari. Heel, Königswinter 2007, ISBN 978-3-89880-815-6 .

Web links

Commons : Ferrari 312 B3  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Ferrari.com information about the 312B3. Retrieved on May 6, 2020 (en)
• Ferrari.com information on the 312B3-74. Retrieved on May 6, 2020 (en)
• ultimatecarpage.com Detailed information (article / pictures / technical data). Retrieved on May 6, 2020 (en)
• 1972 Ferrari 312 B3 "Spazzaneve" F1 . Driving recordings (partly onboard) and in the box. On YouTube . Retrieved May 9, 2020
• 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 driven on the limit . Recordings from the track and from the pits. On YouTube . Retrieved May 10, 2020

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Ferrari 312 B3. Retrieved May 7, 2020 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Marco Vitali: "Mutazioni vincenti" . Ed .: Ferrari World. November 1999, p. 32-51 .
3. ^ Eliseo Ferrari: 1947-1997 Ferrari. Cinquant'anni di storia . Edizioni Il Fiorino. Modena 1997.
4. ↑ Vedasi collezione della rivista Austosprint 1973-74
5. ↑ Vedasi collezione della rivista Austosprint 1974-75
6. ^ Fergus McGuckian: Anomalies in Finance: Friday the 17th & Superstition in the Italian Stock Market . Social Science Research Network, November 1, 2010
7. ↑ Curbs No. 26, Medien Bonn, August 2018.