User:FerrariReserveDriver/Ferrari 312T2

The Ferrari 312T2 was a Formula One racing car by Scuderia Ferrari, which was used in Formula One world championships from 1976 until 1978.

History in Racing
The Formula 1 regulations were changed by the FIA for the 1976 season. As the first three races from January to March took place in Brazil, South Africa, and the United States, where teams would usually ship last season’s cars to, the rule changes only came into effect at the Spanish Grand Prix in May. The championship-winning car from 1975, the Ferrari 312T, was modified accordingly and named 312T2.

The race cars were stripped off of their massive air intakes above the cockpit, and cockpit openings were enlarged. Suspension, transmission, and the flat 12-cylinder engine were completely redesigned. During test drives, Ferrari experimented with De Dion rear suspensions, but ultimately did not use them in races.

The 312T2 was the dominating car of the 1976 season. Niki Lauda had been leading the Drivers' Championship by a comfortable margin before he suffered a life-threatening crash on the Nürburgring during the German Grand Prix. The cause of the accident was never entirely clarified. The Argentine driver Carlos Reutemann then joined Ferrari to replace Lauda, as the team did not believe the Austrian would recover from his injuries. However, just 42 days after his accident, Lauda competed in the Italian Grand Prix and finished fourth. Lauda ultimately lost the Drivers' Championship when he retired from the final race in Japan under pouring rain. Nevertheless, the Scuderia Ferrari managed to secure the constructors’ title.

The Scuderia entered the 1977 championship with a virtually unchanged 312T2 and a driver pairing of Lauda and Reutemann. Lauda went on to win his second Formula 1 world title in the 312T2.

The 312T2 was also used in the beginning of the 1978 season in January, during the first two Grand Prix races in South America. Reutemann won the Brazilian Grand Prix, which was the car’s final race before it was replaced by the newer Ferrari 312T3.

Results
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&#42; The 1978 season was continued with the successor model 312T3.

Links

 * Ferrari 312T2. In: Ferrari.com
 * Ferrari 312T2. In: F1Technical.net
 * Ferrari 312T2. In: Ultimatecarpage.com