<< Prev Page 2 of 2 For the opening Grands Prix of the 1970 season, Ferrari focused their efforts on principle driver Jackie Ickx. The 312 B showed promise in these early races but the new flat 12 engine also had some bugs that needed ironing out. From the Belgian Grand Prix onwards a second car was fielded for either Ignazio Giunti or Clay Regazzoni. Halfway through the season, the continuous development started to pay off and in the Dutch Grand Prix Ickx qualified on the front row and finished third ahead of Regazzoni in fourth.
Although, Ickx was now consistently among the fastest drivers, the Belgian driver had to wait until round 9, the Austrian Grand Prix, before he could clinch the first victory with the 312 B. Regazzoni finished second to make it a one-two on the Osterreichring. Of the remaining four Grands Prix, Ickx would win another two; Canada and Mexico and much to the delight of the Tifosi, Regazzoni scored a victory in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Both Ickx and Ferrari finished the year second in the Drivers and Constructors Championship respectively.
Winning four of the last five Grands Prix of 1970, Ferrari were clearly the favourites going into the 1971 season. While an evolution was readied back in Maranello, the Italian team brought out the four 312 Bs for the opening rounds. New signing Mario Andretti started off the year on a high with a win in the South African Grand Prix. From the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari campaigned the new 312 B2, which featured a revised engine, a lower body and an all-new suspension setup. Ickx managed to score one more win in 1971 but there was no sign of the late-1970 form.
With five Grand Prix wins, the 312 B brought Ferrari back to the sharp end of the Formula 1 World Championship after several dismal seasons. Sadly, this form was short-lived prompting another difficult couple of years. The flat 12 first used in the 312 B did, however, form the basis of Ferrari's success in the second half of the decade, resulting in three World Drivers Championships. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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For the opening Grands Prix of the 1970 season, Ferrari focused their efforts on principle driver Jackie Ickx. The 312 B showed promise in these early races but the new flat 12 engine also had some bugs that needed ironing out. From the Belgian Grand Prix onwards a second car was fielded for either Ignazio Giunti or Clay Regazzoni. Halfway through the season, the continuous development started to pay off and in the Dutch Grand Prix Ickx qualified on the front row and finished third ahead of Regazzoni in fourth.