Ferrari’s Technological Innovations Part 9: 1972. Spazzaneve and the Ground Effect

Recent Formula 1 seasons have shown how critical a large flat surface (the so-called floor) is for optimizing airflow close to the ground. In the early 1970s, single-seaters were designed to be narrow for better air penetration, with downforce achieved through aerodynamic wings and fins, as we’ve seen before (click here to learn more). However, Mauro Forghieri, Ferrari’s brilliant chief engineer, noticed an unexplained phenomenon: with the same 312 B 3-liter 180-degree engine, the 312 PB dominating the World Sportscar Championship was aerodynamically much more efficient than the Formula 1 single-seater.

The Ferrari 312 B proved competitive but was less efficient than the 312 PB Sport Prototype with the same engine.

As a technician, Forghieri decided to study this phenomenon. At the time, Maranello didn’t have a wind tunnel capable of providing comparable data under consistent conditions. Forghieri’s team moved to Stuttgart, using the wind tunnel at Mercedes and Porsche’s university, to compare the two cars’ efficiency. The results were clear: the PB sportscar, with its wide underbody, was significantly more efficient than the single-seater.

The Ferrari 312 PB dominated the 1972 World Sportscar Championship, winning every race except the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This led to the creation of a revolutionary experimental single-seater designed to mimic the PB’s flat, wide underbody. Featuring a wide front like a sportscar, side radiators with large cooling intakes, and boxy lines, it was dubbed the 312 B3. The results were unequivocal: the large surface area of the car’s underbody ensured superior vehicle dynamics. At a time when extreme aerodynamics favored high straight-line speeds but limited cornering efficiency, Forghieri’s study was groundbreaking.

Interestingly, the odd wide, boxy car with a snowplow-like nose—earning it the nickname "Spazzaneve" from journalists—never raced. It was entered at Brands Hatch and Monza but not deployed. Forghieri wisely sought to protect his groundbreaking ideas in the cutthroat world of Formula 1.

The Ferrari 312 B3, nicknamed “Spazzaneve”, remains a star at the Monaco Grand Prix Historique despite never officially racing in Formula 1.

To capitalize on the insights gained, Forghieri asked Ferrari to design a completely new, revolutionary car. This led the engineer, his team, and a young genius named Niki Lauda to develop a program that culminated in the near-unbeatable 312 T of 1975, embodying this visionary experimentation.

The Ferrari 312 B3 in its “normal” version raced in the 1973 Formula 1 season.