Photo: Thesupermat · CC BY-SA 3.0
Raced1971–1972
EngineFlat-12 (180°)
Top speed320 km/h
The 312 PB is a sports prototype racing car campaigned by Ferrari as a works car in the World Sportscar Championship in 1971. The P stands for prototype, the B for boxer engine—though that is somewhat misleading: while the engine is a 180° flat engine designed to lower the center of gravity, it is still a V12. This was prompted by regulations limiting cars to a maximum displacement of 3 liters starting in 1972; the three-liter engine produced 460 bhp at 10800 rpm. The 312 PB won 15 of 33 races, securing the 1972 World Sportscar Championship title for Ferrari. It was engineered by Mauro Forghieri and Giacomo Caliri; its successor was the 333 SP.
Summarized from the sources cited below; every figure in the text was automatically verified against the sources.
Good to know
- On its debut in Buenos Aires in 1971, Ignazio Giunti was killed when he crashed head-on into Jean-Pierre Beltoise's Matra, which the Frenchman was pushing back to the pits.
- Porsche considered the new minimum weight of 650 kg for 3-liter prototypes too high: the 908/03 was 100 kg lighter. The works team stayed away from the World Championship.
- In 1972, the 312 PB won every round of the World Sportscar Championship it entered; it was absent from Le Mans because the engine did not last 24 hours in testing.
- When Matra was fighting for the title, Ferrari sent out a car at Le Mans as a "hare"; against all odds, it survived the 24 hours and finished second behind a Matra.
Learn moreRegulations and concept · Competition · Specifications
Regulations and concept
In 1970, it was announced that starting in 1972 the loophole for 5-liter sports cars such as the Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512 would be closed. Ferrari used 1971 as a test year, relying on the Tipo 001 flat-12 boxer engine from the 312B Formula 1 car. Like that of the Porsche 917, the engine had a low center of gravity, but featured water cooling and four-valve cylinder heads. It looks similar to the F1 engine, yet almost every component is different and non-interchangeable, making spare parts hard to find for historic racing.
Competition
In 1971, the Ferrari did not manage to beat the five-liter cars, unlike the V8-powered Alfa Romeo 33/3, which claimed three championship victories against the Porsche 917 and 908: at Brands Hatch, the Targa Florio, and Watkins Glen. Porsche withdrew from the World Championship starting in 1972. Although Ford possessed a successful F1 engine in the Cosworth V8, it proved unreliable for endurance racing due to vibrations, as the Ford P68 had shown.
Specifications
According to the Italian data table, the engine measures 78.5 x 51.5 mm bore and stroke, yielding 249.25 cm³ per cylinder. The five-speed gearbox is integrated into a single unit with the engine, fuel capacity is 117 liters, and top speed is stated as 320 km/h.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
Frequently asked questions about the Ferrari 312 PB
When was the Ferrari 312 PB raced?
The Ferrari 312 PB was raced from 1971 to 1972.
How much power does the Ferrari 312 PB have?
Power of the Ferrari 312 PB: 460 bhp at 10,800 rpm.
What engine does the Ferrari 312 PB have?
Engine of the Ferrari 312 PB: 2991 cm³ DOHC 180° V12 naturally aspirated Ferrari Tipo 001. It sits behind the seats as a mid-engine.
How fast is the Ferrari 312 PB?
Top speed of the Ferrari 312 PB: 320 km/h.
Who engineered the Ferrari 312 PB?
Engineering of the Ferrari 312 PB: Mauro Forghieri; Giacomo Caliri.
Who drove the Ferrari 312 PB?
Drivers of the Ferrari 312 PB: Sweden Ronnie Peterson, Belgium Jacky Ickx, Switzerland Clay Regazzoni, UK Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Italy Arturo Merzario, Italy Sandro Munari ….
How many races did the Ferrari 312 PB win?
The Ferrari 312 PB took 15 wins in 33 races.
What are the predecessor and successor of the Ferrari 312 PB?
Predecessor: Ferrari 312 P. Successor: Ferrari 333SP.
Enjoying the site? How to support it.
