Ferrari 712P

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The Ferrari 712P is a purpose-built Group 7 prototype, designed, developed and built by Scuderia Ferrari specifically designed to compete in Can-Am sports car races from 1970 to 1974. The 7 refers to the displacement of the engine in liters, the 12 refers to the number of cylinders, and the P stands for Prototype.[1]

Development history

The Ferrari 712P was the successor model of the Ferrari 612P Can-Am car, and was based on the Ferrari 512S with chassis number 1010. The chassis had already had a checkered history and was given a new, open body. The 7-liter V12 engine was first used in the 612 Can-Am at the end of 1969; it developed 720 hp (540 kW) @ 8000 rpm.[2][3][4]

Racing history

The car made its debut at the 1970 Can-Am race at Watkins Glen. It was driven by Mario Andretti, who finished fourth in the race. The Can-Am missions were handled by the North American Racing Team of Luigi Chinetti, who signed the French Jean-Pierre Jarier in 1972. Jarier contested the races at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta in 1972. Brian Redman drove the car in 1973.[5]

Chinetti used the 712 Can-Am sporadically in races for five years until 1974, when the car was sold. In 2005, the racing car was driven at the AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix at the Nürburgring in historic motorsport.[6]

The 712 was rarely used. The Scuderia itself only used the prototype once, in a sports car race in Imola, which Arturo Merzario won.[7]

References

  1. ^ "1970 - 1972 Ferrari 712 Can-Am - Images, Specifications and Information".
  2. ^ "This Forgotten Race Car Has the Biggest Engine Ferrari Ever Made". 8 February 2017.
  3. ^ "1970 - 1972 Ferrari 712 Can-Am Specifications".
  4. ^ "Ferrari 712 Can-Am". Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Ferrari 712 Can-Am". Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Bonhams : Ferrari 712P by Brianza".
  7. ^ "Ferrari 712 Can-Am Car Was a Light Hitting Legend". 24 February 2022.