Ferrari 512

Ferrari 512S

Ferrari 512S is the name of the 1970 -built 25 copies for the sports car class race car in response to the Porsche 917 Analog to 1969 in only a few copies built Ferrari 312P with three-liter V12 engine for the prototype class called 512S which after sports car rules built model with a five-liter V12 engine. This engine made ​​550 at first, and later up to 600 hp. A modified version of the end of 1970 512S, which more closely resembles the 917, called 512M. As of 1976 transferred Ferrari this nomenclature on the street cars of the Ferrari 512BB Series.

History

Beginning of the 1969 season, it became clear that since the end of 1967 limited to a three liter prototype with Formula 1 engines would not be the best choice for long distance races, because Porsche had a gap in the rules consistently exploited and constructed equal to 25 copies of a new sports car, who was allowed to have up to 5 liters. So that also many built, but already old Ford GT40 Mk I got a modern successor, the 917, the relatively small company, Porsche decided to this risky investment because it trusted that the expensive, but at first unrivaled to sell 917 after in previous years, dozens of race cars had gone to customer teams.

Enzo Ferrari, who had neglected the market for customer racing cars for years and most recently in 1967 with the Ferrari 330P4 used a four- liter V12 prototype, decided to flee to the front, sold shares in the company to FIAT and invested a portion of the proceeds in the construction of the necessary 25 copies of a five-liter sports car. At the end of 1969, at least half a calendar year and a full racing season later than the 917, the 512S was introduced and produced the required by the regulations small series.

The homologation in January just before the race at Daytona. Although Ferrari was able to sell several 512 to customer teams such as North American Racing Team, Filipinetti Francorchamps, Montjuich, Gelo and others, however, it remained some chassis unsold. One of Pininfarina was made available, which allow the design study modulo created.

Racing

In the World Championship of 1970, the 512S continued with different body styles, which, inter alia, based on the requirements of the individual tracks. There were also semi-open Spyder. The optically most successful variant was probably the long-tail version ( Coda Lunga ) for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Due to lack of development time, appropriate drivers and good race preparation succeeded in 1970 only a single victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring on the reliable Porsche 917 This should be the only racing success of a Ferrari 512 in the World Championship of Makes; outside of the championship still managed a victory in Kyalami.

Only at the end of the World Sportscar Championship season in 1970, for the race on the 1000 km race at Austria ring in 1970, the 512S to 512M ( modificato ) was upgraded, which as a wedge and a short "S" was now mainly go. The 512M was shown at the 1000 km race at Austria ring the 917 superior immediately and put on some lap records before the race for Ickx / Giunti ended because of problems with the alternator. The following race, the 1000 km from Kyalami, won Ickx / Giunti with two laps to go Siffert / Ahrens in the Porsche 917

Main difference was that the Zuffenhausen Porsche works only developed, the complex operations but teams like John Wyer ( from Gulf supported), Porsche Salzburg and Martini left, so that the burden in terms of time, personnel and money was distributed to several shoulders. This principle is still common today.

Ferrari, however, occurred as early as factory ( Scuderia Ferrari SEFAC ) and was so overwhelmed, which had already shown the Formula 1 season in 1966, got out in the John Surtees. This " veteran " has now engaged again, although two Formula 1 drivers were under contract, but that was for the armada of up to four long-haul Trailer too little. A total of twelve alternating drivers were used. Porsche on the other hand had a firm driver strain.

For strategic reasons, sat Ferrari 1971 512 no longer the factory, but did not support the customer teams. The Scuderia Ferrari focused on the 3-liter prototype 312PB, who had already complied with the new rules of the World Championship of 1972 and after prohibition of five liters was very successful. The three successes of the three-liter Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 in 1971 showed that the 917 were far from invincible. The fastest three pole positions in four races, as even more developed, 512M put the American team of Roger Penske a. The blue and yellow sponsored by Sunoco 512 had, inter alia, a quick tank system and a continuous rear wing. However, Penske 512 produced no great success, as he usually due to technical problems or accidents (often lying at the top ) off or fell back. As previously Wyer Porsche offered the eligible competitors collaborate on, and Penske worked since 1972 as a partner of Porsche on the 917/10 turbo for the CanAm series.

The Ferrari 512 was until 1975 also occasionally used in the North American CanAm racing series and its European counterpart, the Inter series, but also without much success. In the summer of 1971, died in a racing accident at the Norisring, the Mexican pilot Pedro Rodríguez, otherwise Porsche 917 factory driver at Gulf - Wyer, in a Ferrari 512 of the Swiss Herbert Müller. Müller was killed in 1972 after the formation lap a race of Interserie in another 512 at the start and finish straight of the Nürburgring spectacular, but managed to escape the burning car.