18 Facts About Ferrari 312T

1.

Ferrari 312T was a Ferrari Formula One car design, based on the 312B3 from 1974.

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2.

Development of the Ferrari 312T began in 1974, as it became apparent that problems with the handling of the then current 312B3 chassis could not be solved, and a radical re-think was required.

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3.

Ferrari 312T was tested alongside the 312B3 at Fiorano, proving conclusively that the newer car was faster, and indeed it went on to win its next race, the non-championship International Trophy race, with Lauda at the wheel.

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4.

The rules therefore allowed Ferrari to continue to use the 312T for the opening 3 races of the 1976 season, before the introduction of its successor, a revised version called the 312T2.

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5.

Ferrari 312T2 was launched at Fiorano and featured a number of modifications over the Ferrari 312T.

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6.

Ferrari 312T2 was given its race debut at the non-championship Brands Hatch Race of Champions in March 1976 and was first used in a world championship race in May at the Spanish Grand Prix.

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7.

One of the problems Ferrari had with the 312T2B in 1977 was that the Goodyear tyres were increasingly unsuited to the car.

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8.

However, despite its problems, the Ferrari 312T2B was good enough to win the Drivers' Championship for Lauda, who won more through the car's reliability than outright speed.

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9.

Ferrari 312T was replaced by the fiery Canadian Gilles Villeneuve but Villeneuve could not get a handle on the T2B, as its neutral handling did not suit his oversteering driving style.

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10.

Ferrari 312T were due to run 3 cars at Mosport Park in Canada but Lauda decided to depart early because he felt Ferrari 312T could not run 3 cars at a race without its resources being stretched.

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11.

Ferrari 312T2B was used for the first two races of 1978, before being replaced by the Ferrari 312T3.

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12.

Ferrari 312T3 was introduced for Villeneuve and Reutemann at the third race of the 1978 season.

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13.

All the hard work came to nothing though as the pioneering Lotus 79 ground effect "wing car" took on and beat all comers with ease that season, and Ferrari 312T were left to pick up the pieces of any Lotus failures.

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14.

The Ferrari 312T4, introduced at the 1979 South African Grand Prix was closely based on the Ferrari 312T3.

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15.

Ferrari 312T still owns it, and ran it at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Formula One along with every living Formula One world champion.

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16.

The Ferrari 312T was totally outclassed as their wide 312 "Boxer" engine did not suit the aerodynamic needs.

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17.

Ferrari 312T5 was succeeded by a completely new car, the 126CK, for the 1981 season.

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18.

Six-wheeled Ferrari 312T6 used four tyres at the rear, specially developed for the purpose.

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