The Ferrari 312T, chassis 022, is one of the chassis used by Niki Lauda to capture his first Formula One World Championship, in 1975, and secure Ferrari’s first championship since 1964,
“In the five races that Lauda drove chassis 022, he qualified on pole position each time, and placed on the podium three times, including a win at the French Grand Prix.” Lauda’s wins at Monaco, Belgium and the U.S. Grand Prix held at Watkins Glen, New York, were all in the sister car, chassis 023, which remains in the possession of the French collector who once had 022 sitting alongside. Though a non-championship race, Lauda and chassis 022 also won at the BRDC (British Racing Drivers’ Club) International Trophy Race at Silverstone, one of the fastest and most daunting tracks in Formula One.
As a race-winning, Lauda-driven, factory Ferrari Formula One car from a championship year, this is easily among the most significant racing Ferraris in the world.
The 312 series with its 3-liter flat-12 engine and transverse gearbox—the T stands for transversal. The 312T4 of 1979 that brought the driver title to Jody Scheckter also helped Ferrari begin its transition to the ground effects era.
Jody Sheckter 1979
1975 World Championship Winning Car
The 312T and its many iterations gave Ferrari three world driver championships, four constructor’s championships, and 27 victories. In Lauda’s hands, it often took pole position. The 312T and this chassis in particular are central to the Ferrari mythos. After the 312T was supplanted, Ferrari entered a 21-year drought, with no driver championships until 2000 with Schumacher.
Lauda would have won the championship in 1976 if it was not for that fatal crash at the German Grand Prix at Nurburgring Ring.
Its current owner gave it a respectful restoration, refinishing it in its Rosso Corsa livery and having all mechanical components rebuilt by Ferrari experts, then exhibited it at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it finished third in its class.
Pebble Beach 2017
Gooding & Co, will offer the car at Pebble Beach this August. Without question, this will rate among the star cars of Pebble Beach this year.
