Entering the 1974 season, a pair of fresh, new faces began exerting significant influence upon Ferrari, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo (left) and Niki Lauda. Photo: Giorgio Nada
By the end of 1969, Mauro Forghieri had become the head of Ferrari’s Advanced Studies Office with the task of designing a new car for 1970, using a flat 12-cylinder 3000-cc engine called the 312, with two- and four-wheel drive. It was to be called the 312 B.
“I emphasized to my people that the 3-liter V12 unit we used in 1966 had always been a compromise,” he said. “It became more fragile with increased power output and, due to its dimensions, it was impossible to create an optimum weight distribution of 57-percent front and 43-percent rear.”
Become a Member & Get Ad-Free Access To This Article (& About 6,000+ More)
Access to the full article is limited to paid subscribers only. Our membership removes most ads, lets you enjoy unlimited access to all our premium content, and offers you awesome discounts on partner products. Enjoy our premium content.
