One of the most significant Formula 1 cars
A remarkable piece of Ferrari history can currently be admired for a limited time in the Kroymans showroom in Hilversum. The 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 is among the most important Formula 1 cars in the brand’s rich history.
Unique driver’s title
With this car, Jody Scheckter captured the 1979 Formula 1 World Championship. In doing so, he not only became world champion for Ferrari, but also the only African driver ever to win a Formula 1 driver’s title.
Furthermore, the 312 T4 marks a special moment in Ferrari’s history. It was the last Ferrari in which a driver became world champion while Enzo Ferrari was still alive.
Only one retirement
For the 1979 season, Ferrari had to respond to Lotus’s revolutionary ground-effect cars. Designer Mauro Forghieri therefore developed the 312 T4, based on the successful 312 T3. Due to the wide twelve-cylinder boxer engine, the possibilities for a full ground-effect design were limited. As a result, the 312 T4 became a combination of traditional aerodynamics and the new technology that was changing Formula 1.
The car proved to be exceptionally reliable. Throughout the entire season, the 312 T4 retired only once due to a technical problem. Ferrari achieved six victories, shared between Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve. Thanks to these results, Ferrari won both the Constructors’ Championship and the World Drivers’ Championship.