The Ferrari 312 PB was a Group 6 prototype sports car introduced in 1971 by Italian carmaker Ferrari. It was officially designated the 312 P, but often known as the 312 PB to avoid confusion with a previous car of the same name.[1] It was part of the Ferrari P series of Prototype-Sports Cars but was redesignated as a Group 5 Sports Car for 1972.
Development
In 1970, a change in the regulations for sportscar racing for 1972 was announced. The loophole for sports cars like Porsche 917, Ferrari 512, Ford GT40 and Lola T70, which could have engines up to 5 litre if a least 25 were made, was closed. The minimum weight of the 3-litre prototypes was raised to 650 kg. Porsche considered this too heavy as their Porsche 908/03 were 100 kg lighter, and this advantage would have been lost. On the other hand, their air-cooled two-valve engine was low on power with 370 hp, and the development of a new normally aspirated race engine would have been necessary. In the following years, Porsche focussed on the nearly 10 year old 911, Can-Am and turbocharging. The factory did not enter world championship sports car races from 1972 to 1975 and sold the 908s to customers who would have to add weight to them. Matra and Alfa Romeo