Ferrari 312PB
The Ferrari 312 PB was a sports car produced by Ferrari, which was used from 1971 to 1973 in international sports car racing. Predecessor was the 1969 Ferrari 312P, a 3 liter 12 cylinder prototype. Now came still ( unofficially ) a "B" to for Boxer engine, but this was incorrect, as the new engine was flatter, strictly speaking, a 180 ° V12.
The 312 PB was a new development for the race of the World Championship of 1971 against the background that in 1972, only vehicles with a maximum capacity of 3 liters were allowed to be used and the hitherto dominant five-liter sports car Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512S wandered into the museum. The 312 PB was a closeted Monoposto based on the Formula 1 Ferrari 312B model in 1970, which was first fitted with a 180 ° spread V12 to lower the center of gravity in principle. Besides clad wheels, the engine was reduced slightly for the demands of long-distance race, but was considered unsuitable for a 24 - hour race. In 1971, testing the Ferrari did not win against the five liters, the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33, with three-liter engine, however, succeeded in Brands Hatch.
The new prototype was the dominant vehicle of the brand world championship in 1972, for which only Alfa ready set a new car while Porsche retired factory. Dangers of the world-class pilots Jacky Ickx, Carlos Reutemann, Clay Regazzoni, Ronnie Peterson, Carlos Pace, Arturo Merzario and Tim taverns won Ferrari 312PB almost all the races of the series and the World Cup. In the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans was made up, in order not to risk defeat. It won the local Matra.
1973 was also Alfa, but now denied Matra the World Cup and won it with five wins, compared to only two of the 312PB. This time Ferrari Le Mans could not miss. They sat there for several cars one, including one as a "rabbit", which should entice the Matra to a chase at high speed. Ironically, this was the only 312PB the finish, also in second place, behind a Matra. At the Targa Florio, the last issue with world championship status, fell out or return all Italian sports car, it won with a Porsche 911 Carrera RS Touring Car.
With the end of the 1973 season Ferrari pulled completely back from sports car racing, to focus on the F1, where its lack of competitiveness left out some races in 1973. Only with the Ferrari 333SP -1990s, Ferrari introduced again a Formula 1 engine and the company name is available, for a sports car, the built a foreign company.