Ferrari 312 T4A Fiorano 1979 Scheckter

Ferrari 312 T4A Fiorano 1979 Scheckter by Autocult

From a Glorious Era

Ferrari Engineer Mauro Forghieri was responsible for the successful 312T4 racing car, which not only won the world championship title in 1979, but also the runner-up world championship and the constructors’ world championship. Above all, the term ‘ground effect’ shaped the World Cup events this year. Initially implemented by Lotus, the Ferrari technicians also designed the underbody with this finding, which is so important for car racing. Tactically, Mauro Forghieri chose the wheel suspensions in such a way that the airstream that got under the racing car met with as little resistance as possible. In order to achieve the optimal implementation, the technicians experimented with extended rear versions and various bodies, which were also tested on the race track. One of these prototypes shows the implemented model.At the beginning of the Formula 1 season, the new car was not yet fully developed, but from the third race onwards, the two factory drivers Scheckter and Villeneuve sat in the cockpit of the new Formula 1 racer and impressively showed the competition how first-class the new design was. Of the two Scuderia driver’s, Gilles Villeneuve proved to be the more inconsistent over the course of the season, as good placings alternated with poor results and retirements, while Jody Scheckter continuously added points in the front ranks. At the end of the season, the South African won the world championship title with a total of 51 points – exactly four points more than Gilles Villeneuve.