The Ferrari 246 P F1 was a Formula One race car prototype used by
Ferrari in 1960. It was Ferrari's first
mid-engined
In automotive engineering, a mid-engine layout describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the rear-wheel axles, but behind the front axle.
History
The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive format can be considered the original layout of ...
car. It made only two World Championship appearances, with its best result being fifth place at the
1960 Italian Grand Prix.
Development
The disappointing form of the
Ferrari 246 in 1959, along with the continuing rise of
Cooper and
Lotus, finally convinced Enzo Ferrari that the future lay in rear-engine cars. The 246P was developed in secret by a team led by
Carlo Chiti
Carlo Chiti (19 December 1924 – 7 July 1994) was an Italian racing car and engine designer best known for his long association with Alfa Romeo's racing department. He also worked for Ferrari and was involved in the design of the Ferrari 156 Sha ...
. After sorting its tail-heavy weight distribution, it debuted at the
1960 Monaco Grand Prix, retiring on lap 70 with a failed differential, but classified sixth.
156 F2
With the new 1.5 litre rules due to come into force in 1961, the 246P was then pressed into service as a development mule for the revised V6 engine, in which guise it could compete in the existing Formula Two class. It made a single World Championship appearance, at the
1960 Italian Grand Prix, finishing fifth, but won the Formula Two Solitude Grand Prix.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(
key)(results in bold indicate pole position, results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
* Includes points scored by the
Ferrari 246
References
*
External links
Ferrari 246 P F1: Ferrari HistoryFerrari 156 F2: Ferrari History
{{F1 cars 1960
246 P
Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles