- 1,115
- Rivera
- Tsukishima-TDUDT
Introduced in the 1970 season, the 312 B finally meant Ferrari's return to competitiveness after a number of bleak seasons. Fitted with a completely new flat-12 engine, the 312 B scored four victories in its first season. After the first races of 1971 a slightly revised version was introduced. With a new car and a very talented new driver from the United States, Mario Andretti, expectations were high.
Andretti lived up to the expectations by winning the first race of the season, still with the 312 B. The revisions carried through to create 312 B2 unfortunately did not have the expected results. Most noticable changes were the sleeker nose and the in-board mounted rear springs and shock-absorbers. It proved equally quick, but a terrible reliability let the red racer down.
Throughout the season, Ferrari entered three works drivers; Jacky Ickx, Clay Regazzoni and Mario Andretti. The drivers switched back and forth between the 312 B and 312 B2 and recorded some very good qualifying results, but rarely finished a race. In the Dutch Grand Prix, Jacky Ickx finished and scored the 312 B2's only win of the season.
Although the results were disapointing, Ferrari used the 312 B2 for another season. Again in the hands of the Ickx, Regazzoni and on some occasions Andretti, it did not fare much better. At the German Grand Prix, Ickx managed to qualify his 'B2' on the first row, right behind poleman Jacky Stewart in his Tyrrell. After an exciting race in which the lap-record was broken multiple time by Ickx, he finished first, followed by Regazzoni. A rare highlight in another dismal season.
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